BANGKOK, 2 June 2011 – The Ministry of Culture has asked the Ministry of Public Health and related authorities to help inspect operations of tattoo studios after inappropriate use of sacred objects or holy beings in tattoo patterns among foreign tourists are often found.
Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat admitted that since the ministry has no legal authority to enforce a ban on this issue, he will ask the Ministry of Public Health to inspect or analyse if tattooing can lead to infection or not.
Mr Nipit added that his ministry will issue 10,000 handbooks in both Thai and English to caution people on use of religious symbols in Buddhism and distribute them to related entrepreneurs and businesses.
Some businesses are using Buddhist symbols inappropriately such as on trademark of alcoholic drinks and entertainment places or on clothes and even socks. Inappropriate usage is also found in various media from television to the internet.
The minister added that he will ask all provincial governors to seek cooperation from entrepreneurs not to use religious symbols for commercial purposes, staring from Phuket province where religious tattoo patterns such as Buddha image and Hindu God Ganesh were found.
