Bangkok - DASTA joins forces with partners and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to launch “The TCCN Forum 2026” driving sustainable urban development
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), in collaboration with the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA, launched the "Thailand Creative Cities Network: TCCN Forum 2026" event at the Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong). Five key network partners participated in the opening ceremony. The event aims to create a model stage for synergizing network partners to drive creative cities through the exchange of knowledge and experience in urban development via cultural capital and creativity, in order to tangibly elevate cities, the creative economy, and sustainable tourism.
On 2 August 2026, Ms. Wanida Phansa-ard, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (Representative of the Minister of Tourism and Sports), along with executives and representatives from 7 key network partners, namely Ms. Suntree Sernsooksamrit, Deputy Director-General of the City Planning and Urban Development Department (Representative of the Governor of Bangkok), Ms. Ranee Ittharat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Ms. Soohyun Kim, Regional Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, Mr. Aek Sitthivekin, Deputy Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, Mr. Pichit Virankabutra, Deputy Director of the Creative Economy Agency, Ms. Suratsan Thongmee, Deputy Director of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and Mr. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Director-General of DASTA, jointly opened the "Thailand Creative Cities Network: TCCN Forum 2026" at the Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong). In attendance are the representatives from the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) from Thailand and abroad, totaling 13 cities. This event is considered the first UNESCO Creative Cities Network forum held in Thailand and is a significant opportunity to exchange knowledge in driving the creative cities network for global sustainable development.
Mr. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Director-General of DASTA, stated that for the "Thailand Creative Cities Network: TCCN Forum 2026", DASTA collaborated with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to invite creative city network partners both within Thailand and internationally, totaling up to 13 cities, to create awareness of urban development under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) concept and disseminate best practices and impactful results of Thailand's UNESCO Creative Cities Network development. Under the concept of "Creative Cities Connect: Connecting People • Culture • Creativity • Sustainability", this event also serves as a great opportunity for experts and representatives of creative city networks from both Thailand and abroad to exchange knowledge, ideas, and perspectives on creative city development.
In this event, 13 participating creative cities took to the stage to exchange ideas on urban development and various important factors that facilitate the enhancement of their city capabilities, resulting in creative cities that are livable and attractive tourist destinations, as well as present their creative cities’ uniqueness at each creative city’s exhibition for visiting experts and interested individuals. These creatives cities are consisted of:
UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Thailand: 4 UCCN categories, totaling 9 cities, namely :
- City of Gastronomy : Phuket, Phetchaburi, and Songkhla.
- City of Crafts and Folk Art : Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, and Nan.
- City of Design : Bangkok and Chiang Rai.
- City of Music: Suphan Buri.
Among the 9 creative cities of Thailand, DASTA has been a co-driver for a total of 6 creative cities: Sukhothai, Nan, Songkhla, Chiang Rai, Suphan Buri, and Phetchaburi.
UNESCO Creative Cities Network from Abroad: 3 creative cities categories, totaling 4 cities, namely :
- City of Design: Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany, and Cebu, Republic of the Philippines.
- City of Literature: Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia.
- City of Crafts and Folk Art: Echizen, Japan.
Highlights of the event include special keynote addresses and knowledge-exchange activities, such as :
● Special keynote address on "Bangkok under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network" by Ms. Suntree Sernsooksamrit, Deputy Director-General of the City Planning and Urban Development Department, representative of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
● Special keynote address on "The Development of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network under Thailand's Cultural Capital" by Ms. Ranee Ittharat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, representative of the Ministry of Culture.
● A panel discussion exchanging knowledge on developing the financial system of creative cities and driving creative cities in various fields by representatives of creative cities both domestically and internationally.
Furthermore, the event featured exhibitions presenting the identity and potential of creative cities, cultural performances, and activities to inspire
the creative economy, in order to be a learning space for knowledge exchange and promote cooperation among creative cities at the regional and global levels.
To allow creative cities networks from both Thailand and abroad to directly engage in real context knowledge and experience exchange, DASTA has also organized two off-site Creative City Tour activities, as follows :
(1) Bangkok Technical Tour activity: A learning exchange in Bangkok, a City of Design, to visit the Talat Noi Museum, a community over 200 years old along the Chao Phraya River that is now a cultural transition zone blending lifestyle with street art, visit the art exhibitions at River City, and visit the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC).
(2) Pattaya Technical Tour activity: Located in Pattaya City, Chonburi Province, which is an area that DASTA has prepared to drive towards becoming a City of Film.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is another major project that UNESCO operates alongside the declaration of world natural and historical heritage sites, starting in 2004 to promote the development of creative industries. The "Creative City" focuses on cooperation among local communities, the public sector, and the private sector in creating a city through policies and activities that develop the environment, social and economic structures, and utilize local cultural assets, history, and traditions to develop and create value, connecting the essence of various cities worldwide.
Currently, more than 408 cities worldwide have been designated as part of the creative cities network by UNESCO. In Thailand, Nan and Songkhla are the two latest provinces to be announced as members of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the year 2025.
DASTA has a policy to drive tourist destinations and cities in designated areas by starting with the use of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC), a tool of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, which consists of 4 dimensions: sustainable management, socio-economic sustainability, cultural sustainability, and environmental sustainability.
DASTA studies the potential and suitability of cities that can be driven according to UCCN guidelines to elevate them into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, driving this forward together with provinces and all network partners from all sectors. The driving of cities in DASTA's designated areas and vicinities towards becoming creative city networks began in 2018, and the first city to be announced as a UNESCO Creative City Network member was Sukhothai, which became a City of Crafts and Folk Art in 2019, alongside Bangkok, which became a City of Design.
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