The Department of Intellectual Property has put the Phuket lobster into the Geographical Indication (GI) protection system
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, Ms. Kanittha Kangsawanit said that Phuket province is considered the top tourist destination in the southern Andaman region. According to the tourism situation summary in 2023, more than 10 million tourists visited, generating over 330 billion Baht in revenue.
This rapid expansion of the local economy has positively impacted various industries in the province, such as agriculture, fisheries, and food.
The Department actively supports and promotes comprehensive GI protection for products, controlling the quality of two GI-listed items: Phuket Pineapple and Phuket Pearl. Additionally, one item, Phuket Garcinia, is in the advertising declaration stage, while efforts are ongoing to discover new GI products to enhance the value of local products and sustain the economy of Phuket province.
However, recognizing the potential of Phuket’s seafood products, particularly the “Phuket 7-color Lobster,” the Department sees an opportunity to promote it as a GI-listed item. It is well-known among tourists, especially for its place in the culinary scene and is consumed both fresh and processed, cultivated in the waters around Phuket and surrounding islands. Considered high-value seafood, it has been featured in the Phuket Lobster Festival for over seven years and was selected as a main ingredient for the APEC 2022 Gala Dinner.
During this visit to Phuket, the Department aims to gain knowledge and understanding of the potential for including the Phuket Lobster in the GI protection system.
This move is part of efforts to promote Thailand’s culinary soft power, involving consultations with relevant stakeholders from both government and private sectors. The Department has also inspected the production process of the product at its manufacturing location. (TNA)
