A market vendor serves up some fresh local
food at Naklua’s 3rd new Walking Street project.
Thanachot Anuwan
Culture Minister Sukamol Kunplome and other top local
government officials kicked off the third attempt at turning the Old
Naklua Market into a new “Walking Street” tourist attraction.
MP Poramet Ngampichet, Banglamung District Chief
Chawalit Saeng-Uthai, and Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome welcomed more
than 1,000 people to the Dec. 3 launch.
Sukamol said the government has tapped its culture
budget as another way to create economic, as well as social, benefits
for society. The market, she said, would create jobs and spread the
culture of the east around the world.
Long a pet project of the mayor, the market is aimed
at highlighting historical culture and products in the Naklua area. In
two previous attempts in 2010 and 2009, however, the project fell short
of the goal, offering few products to differentiate the marketplace from
the “new” Naklua Market just down the road.
Hoping to breathe new life into the project, planners
this year set up three zones, focusing on sales of local merchandise and
locally caught seafood, cooking demonstrations and food tasting, and
traditional Naklua-area music and dance.
RS music label recording artist Khanom Jeen did his
bit to get the party started, performing a free show on opening day.
The third market will run weekends from 4-10 p.m.
until Jan. 29.
