Thailand is buzzing with anticipation as it gears up for the 52nd National Book Fair and the 22nd Bangkok International Book Fair, scheduled to begin tomorrow at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Running until April 8, the fair promises an array of literary treasures, with over one million books sprawled across an expansive exhibition area exceeding 20,000m².
During a press conference held on March 18, Suwich Rungwattanapaiboon, president of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (Pubat), shared insights into the planning and preparation for this event.
"We have curated a diverse collection of books, totalling over a million titles from 322 publishers, showcased across 914 meticulously designed booths," remarked Suwich, underscoring the scale and depth of offerings awaiting visitors.
A notable element of this year's fair is encapsulated in the theme "Booklympics" -- resonating with the upcoming Olympic Games scheduled for July in Paris -- to promote a spirit of celebration and global unity.
Expounding on the theme, Suwich elaborated: "Our focus this year revolves around infusing joy and engagement into every facet of the fair. This is palpable in our visually captivating artwork crafted by renowned Thai cartoonist Pakdee Saentaweesuk, also known as Tai Kai-Hua-Roh."
The event this year unfolds across three key zones -- the Book Zone, Exhibition Zone and Activity Zone, each offering a distinct yet connected experience.
The Book Zone is the heart of the fair and is divided into seven categories -- Novel, Literature and Fiction; Book Wonderland, featuring comic books and books for teenagers; Children's and Educational books; Foreign books; General books; Old books; and Non-books.
Suwich, centre, with athletes Wilawan Aphinyaphong, left, and Pawina Thongsuk.
"This comprehensive categorisation ensures that visitors can enjoy works from timeless classics to contemporary masterpieces," highlighted Suwich.
The Exhibition Zone boasts an engaging line-up, including the "Cat Country Exhibition" featuring translated literature by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn by Nanmee Books Company Limited; the "Outstanding Book Exhibition 2024" by the Office of the Basic Education Commission Ministry of Education; the "Phanwaenfah Prize Literary Exhibition"; the "Proud Songkran Exhibition" by the National Soft Power Strategy Committe; and the "What Read Exhibition: What Do Famous People Read?".
A standout among the activities is the "Booklympics" competition, designed to unearth and celebrate talent. Suwich outlined the competition's breadth, encompassing contests such as book cover design, storytelling, proofreading, store display, and a bestseller showcase.
"For the best book seller contest, we will let each writer or publisher come up on stage and say anything to promote their books. Then we will check the result at the end of the day to see which book sold the most," he explained.
In a bid to foster philanthropy and support literature, Pubat has also introduced the "One Reader Inspires Million People Foundation" initiative. This initiative seeks to raise funds for reading-promotion agencies facing financial constraint. Additionally, the fair will host the "Why Books Are Worth Having?" activity, providing a platform for readers to articulate their perspectives on the profound impact of books in their lives.
Leveraging technology to enhance engagement and glean insights, Pubat has also partnered with Wisesight to deploy an artificial intelligence system for social media monitoring. Suwich emphasised the strategic significance of this collaboration, enabling real-time monitoring of public sentiment, proactive resolution of potential concerns, and leveraging data analytics to refine future event strategies.
Simultaneously, the 22nd Bangkok International Book Fair has also garnered substantial traction, surpassing initial expectations. Featuring eleven world-class publishers representing nine countries across 18 booths, the international segment promises global literary and cultural exchange. Participating publishers from Taiwan, Japan, China, Ukraine and other nations will not only showcase books but also offer insights into printing technology, cultural nuances and language learning resources.
A groundbreaking addition to this year's fair is a collaboration with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau to host the Bangkok Rights Fair. This dedicated platform facilitates business-to-business interactions for copyright trading between Thai publishers and international agencies. The fair anticipates substantial value generation, with expected copyright trading values exceeding US$10 million (363 million baht).
In line with tradition, the fair continues its practice of inviting notable personalities and influencers to enhance its allure. In embracing the "Booklympics" theme, the event welcomes distinguished Thai national team athletes, including professional volleyball player Wilawan Aphinyaphong and the 2004 Olympic gold medallist weightlifter Pawina Thongsuk.
Pubat president Suwich Rungwattanapaiboon.
Reflecting on her passion for reading, Wilawan shared: "Reading has been a lifelong passion, offering solace and entertainment, especially during travels. As a business owner now, insights from books on tactics and business management prove invaluable."
Pawina, reminiscing about her childhood love for comics, highlighted the role of reading in fostering focus and knowledge. "From Thai cartoons to translated fiction, reading has expanded my horizons and instilled discipline," she remarked
The convergence of literary enthusiasts, industry stalwarts and global perspectives at the 52nd National Book Fair and the 22nd Bangkok International Book Fair promises an immersive experience, underscoring Thailand's commitment to fostering a culture of reading and intellectual exchange on the global stage.
The 52nd National Book Fair and 22nd Bangkok International Book Fair runs from tomorrow to April 8 from 10am to 9pm at Hall 5-7, LG Floor, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. For more information on activities, please visit facebook.com/bookthai and thailandbookfair.com.
