Report in The Nation yesterday about an attempt at a Guinness World Record that the Tourism Authority of Thailand hasn’t mentioned.

But, The Nation screws up the story as only The Nation can. The Nation “journalists” forgot the basic tenets when writing a story.

• Who
• What
• Where
• When
• Why
• How

First off, they get the “What” wrong.  Their math is totally wrong.

The “World Record for Thai Massage” project, is set to draw at least 840 pairs of contestants

But, if you do some simple addition, it is actually more than 1300:

The project, launched at Chiang Mai’s Royal Park Rajapruek with 199 pairs massaging en masse, will also be held in Ubon Ratchathani with an expected 214 pairs, then Surat Thani with 400 pairs and Phuket with 500 pairs, with the closing ceremony to be held in Bangkok, he said.

I read and re-read the article trying to see “When” it would take place, but The Nation doesn’t give a date.  Brilliant!

So, I did a search for “World Record For Thai Massage” and found an article in the Chiang Mai Mail from May 2011 that gives more details and tells me that this event is scheduled for June 11, 2011.

It also goes into great detail explaining the “Why” which The Nation skipped completely:

The bid to establish a new world record for Thai massage is also designed to further the following objectives: Widen the related knowledge pool, sharpen technical expertise and strengthen the capabilities and international competitiveness of spa and health and wellness operators and service providers, strengthen co-operation and promote effective networking among health and wellness service providers, stimulate increased domestic demand and consumption of traditional health and wellness remedies, such as traditional Thai massage, and promote the use of these remedies as part of everyday life and encourage health and wellness service providers to undertake professional certification programmes to attain the highest possible standards in product quality and service delivery.

Finally, highlight the extensive range of benefits offered by Thai spas and health and wellness service providers throughout Thailand The Department of Health Service Support believes that in addition to raising the benchmark for the Thai health and wellness industry, these activities pave the way for the more effective integration of state and private sector efforts. This increases Thailand’s international competitiveness and is consistent with the national policy to establish Thailand as the medical hub of Asia.

At the very end of the article in the Chiang Mai Mail, I see “(TAT)” but no mention of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in the article.  But The Nation article seems to think that the Tourism Authority of Thailand is in on this:

Chiang Mai provincial public health officer Wattana Kanchanakamon said at the launch today that the project, a collaboration between the Public Health Ministry, the Department of Export Promotion, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and THAI, aimed to promote Thai massage to the world.

If the Tourism Authority of Thailand is a collaborator in this attempt at a World Record, I haven’t seen any promotion on their Facebook page, or any Press Release on their news site.  Maybe they are too busy shopping and promoting the BIG sale in Bangkok to all the Bangkokians.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Shopping

Now, this attempt at a World Record, and getting into the Guinness book, will be the third record for Thailand this year.  During Thai New Year, Songkran, Thailand promoted Thai culture by setting the World Record for the World’s Biggest Water Fight in Bangkok and the Longest Human Wave in Khon Kaen.  Setting records for all the wrong reasons.

So, this will get Thailand a little PR but will it attract any tourists?  Not the way it isn’t being promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

And, why only 800 or 1,300 or whatever the number is?  There are a bazillion massage parlors throughout Thailand and with a little coordination this could be a nation-wide event with one million massages given simultaneously.  Then it might generate some interest outside of the Kingdom.

Anyhow, I will wait and see if the Tourism Authority of Thailand does any promotion on this since it is only one week away.  I do hope that there is a happy ending and the record is broken.

Tags: chiang mai mail guinness massage TAT the nation tourism authority of thailand world record