by Dr. Iain Corness
Royally
granted surnames do show that one has a classy background; however,
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, the director of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand Region 3 office, shrugged off his, saying in his educated
American English accent, “It is recognizable, but it didn’t help me
get work!”
Chattan is certainly no “ordinary” Thai, and in
fact was born in America when his engineer father and university professor
mother were in the US to study for their Master’s degrees!
He stayed in the US for two years playing with his
toys, while his parents picked up their degrees, before heading back to
Bangkok and his introduction to schooling in Thailand. However, after
finishing Grade IV, he returned to America for the next two year’s
schooling in New York. This had a profound effect on Chattan and gave him
the start of his international viewpoint on life. “Those two years were
what really made the difference,” said Chattan, after I mentioned his
cosmopolitan outlook and command of English that he has these days.
On his return to Bangkok he continued his schooling.
When he had completed secondary education he knew that his maths were such
that he would never make it as an engineer, and arts and languages were
“too boring” and so he enrolled at university in Political Science.
“I had no interest in politics, but in the course you learn about the
world.” He finished up with a B.A. from Chulalongkorn University in
Political Science, majoring in International Relations. With his father
having been a very successful engineer, I was surprised that there had
been no pressure on him (despite woeful mathematics) to follow in his
father’s footsteps, as is often the case. “Not at all,” said
Chattan, “my parents let me develop into what I wanted.”
Shortly after graduation from Chulalongkorn, he was on
the move again - back to the USA to do his own Master’s degree in
International Relations at Boston University taking up another two years.
This was something that he found he really enjoyed, studying the
interaction and negotiations that occur between countries.
It also added to his own internationality which had
begun in the USA, and added to by holiday trips with his parents to Europe
and other Asian countries, plus the exposure, this time as an adult, to
the US culture. “It helped me see how others work, live and think,”
said Chattan. However, he did immediately say that Thailand has always
been his home.
On his return to home, he was soon able to secure a
position with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Bangkok. He was
assigned to the International Relations division, where he was to spend
some years, drafting speeches in English, making translations and liaising
with the foreign media.
This led in turn to promotion to be the chief of
foreign news, leading to even greater contact with the foreign media, and
how they perceived Thailand. His internationality stood him in good stead
there. However, like all upwardly mobile people, another promotion was in
the offing, and he was sent to Sydney, Australia, in 1995 to be the
assistant director, a post he was to fill for the next three years.
On his return to Thailand, he was initially the
assistant director in International Relations, but quickly moved up to be
the full director in Ayutthaya, where he spent the next three years
assisting in promoting the ancient capital.
Now he was ready for one of the posts that was touted
in the TAT circles as being one of the more difficult places - Pattaya!
“It was much better than I expected,” said Chattan. “I had been told
of difficulties with the different groups here, but over the past five
months I am doing OK, with no real conflicts.” He went on to state,
“If we each do our own jobs honestly and diligently, we should be
fine.” As part of his ‘master plan’ for Pattaya he says he has a few
items in the pipeline. As well as the international promotions, he also
wants to remind Bangkok people about their closest seaside resort. “I
want the Bangkok people to see and hear about our food and the different
family entertainments there are here, so I will bring the Bangkok media
down.”
One of the attractions that the TAT is promoting this
year is an art collective and subsequent art contests and displays
throughout Pattaya, with cash prizes for the first competition, just to be
known as Pattaya Art 2005. There is a huge pool of artists, both Thai and
expats in our city, and Chattan wants to see them being recognized, and
Pattaya’s image being enhanced. He also wants to see targeting of
specialist markets such as diving and golf.
Professionally, career wise, he does not goal-set. “I
let destiny take its course, while I do the best I can.” So far that
appears to have worked very well for him.
In his spare time pursuits, he describes himself as
“a bit of a nerd, surfing the net.” He also enjoys movies, especially
English language ones, with his son and daughter, in a small way improving
their English skills and to improve their level of understanding. Other
spare time pursuits include diving, fitness centers, spa relaxation,
dancing and the food and music scene. He also said, “I’m not a social
animal per se. I don’t do it to make connections.”
I asked Chattan if he is looking to direct the
children’s career paths, but not at all. “I was raised western style,
so I don’t put too much pressure on the kids - but I notice they tend to
be as bad at maths as I am,” he said laughingly.
So that is our new TAT director. A very westernized Thai, but one who
can understand both cultures, a very important feature in multi-cultural
Pattaya. Welcome to the city, and we all hope your ideas will come to
fruition, as they are good for all of us.
