“If cultural assets are overused, simplified or commercialised beyond recognition, their value declines for everyone — Thai people first and tourists as well.”

In this edition of Heritage Matters, James Stent makes a pointed case against the proposed merger of the Ministry of Culture with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, drawing sharp distinctions between cultural stewardship and tourism promotion. Once culture is steered by commercial interests, he warns, its value erodes for everyone in ways that can’t be easily undone.

Read more about this in Heritage Matters, a column presented by The Siam Society in The Bangkok Post here.

James Stent is a longtime resident of Thailand and a member of the council of The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage.