Bangkok--29 Apr--Siam PR. Consultant The organizing committee of the World Tattoo Arts Festivals & Exhibition Thailand is holding the event this year for second consecutive year after enjoying an overwhelming success in the first year with over 7,000 Thai and international visitors. This year’s event will highlight the combination of traditional Thai arts and tattoo arts, while promoting strong professional ethics with attempts to upgrade Thailand’s tattoo industry to the international level. Attend an international seminar and see various showcases from over 70 participants along with experiencing other exciting activities intended specially for tattoo artists and enthusiasts from all over the world at the 2nd World Tattoo Arts Festivals & Exhibition Thailand. Ms. Suphatchaya Lattisophonkul also known as Bell China Dolls, a representative of the 2nd World Tattoo Arts Festivals & Exhibition Thailand organizing committee, disclosed that the first World Tattoo Arts Festivals & Exhibition Thailand held last year was a good success as over 7,000 Thai and foreign visitors made it to the fair. “The event also marked positive changes to the tattoo industry both in terms of image and professional ethics. It was also a great venue in promoting the artistic essence of local tattoo industry among foreigners and it is why we have the 2nd World Tattoo Arts Festivals & Exhibition Thailand held for the second consecutive year, whose concept will focus on the transformation of Thai traditional art to body tattoo using Khone performance to relay the message,” she said. “The objective of this year’s event is to have a venue for all tattoo artists and tattoo enthusiasts from Thailand and around the world to meet and exchange ideas and information as well as the traditional arts with attempts to upgrade the standard of the tattoo industry and strengthen the ethics among tattoo professionals. The organizing committee does not in anyway intend to promote the popularity or spread the culture of body tattoo among the general public, but instead believes that communicating professionally will help people especially teenagers to decide what they really like instead of letting the emotional influence take over,” she explained. Ms. Rungwipa Sae-Ong also known as Joy Wong, another representative of the organizing committee for the 2nd World Tattoo Arts Festivals & Exhibition Thailand, said this year’s event would be held during May 16-18 at Bali High Beach Pattaya. “There will be around 70 booths from participants around the world who will be divided into zones namely Thailand, Asia, Japan, Europe and America. Each booth will showcase tattoo cultures from countries around the globe with participation from over 100 world renowned tattoo artists. In addition, other attractions to the program include Khone performance, Thai cultural art exhibition, tattoo contest, body painting, making of Knone masks and many more. The event is well supported by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd., “she said. “In order to complement the objective of the festival, the organizing committee is initiating an international seminar entitled ‘Tattoo Spirit’ on Friday 16 May 2008 at 1.00 pm at Manita Hotel Pattaya. The seminar is held in cooperation with international tattoo artists and the Jimmy Wong family, Thailand’s representative, to discuss matters promoting higher professional ethics which include not accepting tattoo work on teenagers aged below 20 years, and building Thailand as a hub for tattoo related conferences and business venue. Interested parties can register for free seminar by sending e-mail to joywongtat[email protected],” she said. “The organizing committee hopes this year’s World Tattoo Arts Festivals & Exhibition Thailand will help promote the traditional Thai arts among foreign visitors and generate income worth 400 million baht through the prosperity of local tattoo SME business and trading of knowledge and technologies. It also helps stimulate the economy through tourism promotion, she concluded. For more information please contact: Kwanpat Tungjerdjarad and Kessirin Kularbsawas Siam PR. Consultant Co., Ltd. Tel. 02-693-7835-8 ext. 23 or 25 Mobile 081-503-5300 or 081-632-9556