Street foods will be well organized with their charms intact

BANGKOK, July 17 (TNA) -- Authorities must organize street foods in tourist cities for order and hygiene but measures will not affect their charms and characteristics, said Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. In response to an article in www.traveller.com on impacts of the government’s plan to tidy up Bangkok’s street foods that form the capital’s charms, Mr Pongpanu said the government was well aware that impacts were possible but street food order was necessary for Bangkok as it was a big city with heavy traffic of people every day. Measures to organize street foods were aimed at order, cleanliness and safety and based on equal rights of everyone. Characteristics, cultures, lifestyles and atmospheres of communities and food stalls would be intact, he said. According to Mr Pongpanu, his ministry and the City Hall will immediately conduct public relations activities to communicate the policy to people, operators and local and foreign tourists. Later the ministry together with relevant organizations in the government and the private sector will launch activities to promote street foods, tourism and respect to all people’s rights. The activities will emphasize standard and clean foods, public safety and participation from communities. “The sustainable development of the paradise of street foods requires the conservation of identities, cultures, lifestyles and particularly good foods and desserts of local communities throughout Bangkok… They will be the real charms that attract tourists and their repeat visits,” Mr Pongpanu said. He said measures would begin with Yaowarat and Khao San roads. (TNA)