Michelin to Launch First Bangkok Guide

Bangkok, a city that is known the world over for its bustling street food scene, is now getting serious about building up the reputation of its more permanent, upscale eateries.

Thanks to a collaboration between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Michelin, the Thai capital will soon have its own Michelin Guide for the first time ever.

“Bangkok is one of the world’s culinary capitals, offering amazing cuisine, from fine dining from renowned international chefs to small family-owned eateries,” said Lionel Dantiacq, President and Managing Director (East Asia and Australia) of the Michelin Group. “The kingdom’s food also has a long, rich heritage which enhances the pleasure of tourists traveling.”

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The famed red guide, known the world over for listing the best-of-the-best in hotels and restaurant fare, anticipates a release date for the Bangkok edition by year’s end. The guide will be produced in both English and Thai; both will be available in print and online.

“Everyone knows that the Michelin Guides are ideal books for international food lovers,” said TAT Governor, Yuthasak Supasorn. “We hope that this partnership between TAT and Michelin will boost high-quality tourism in Thailand while helping visitors get more out of Thailand’s rich culinary scene. The Guide will also inspire local restaurants to improve their quality and raise the bar in terms of gastronomic excellence.”

As Thailand takes steps to “raise the bar” on its food scene, however, it is also scrambling to define its policies on the city’s popular street food vendors.

Last week, the Thai government announced it was enforcing strict new measures to clean up Thailand’s streets, including the removal of all street vendors. A chief government advisor, Wanlop Suwandee, said the government is “now working to get rid of stalls from all 50 districts of Bangkok. There will be no let-up in this operation. Every street vendor will have to move out.”

Later, apparently, the tourism minister stepped in to help reverse, or at least curb, the complete erasure of the city’s street food vendors.

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According to a statement released by the TAT, “there is no outright ban on the sale of street food. In fact, the [Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)] appreciates that food vendors are a vital part of the city’s identity and helped Bangkok be listed by CNN as one of the 23 best cities in the world for street food.”

Additionally, says the TAT, “in Bangkok’s busiest areas, vendors have been required to move to designated zones and nearby markets to operate.”

No matter the fate of the city’s street food vendors, the TAT estimates the new Michelin Guide will increase food spending among visitors by approximately 10 percent.

Thailand is only the second country in South East Asia and the fifth in Asia in which Michelin Guide has established a presence. Other Asian countries include Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe), China (Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai), Singapore and South Korea (Seoul.)

For the time being, Michelin Guide is only planning a Bangkok edition although the TAT says it's hopeful that other Thai destinations will be included in future editions.

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