ไทย
Phuket, Thailand – July 31, 2026 – Mr. Chotinarin Kerdsom, Governor of Phuket Province, presided over the official press conference announcing the ‘Phuket Lobster Festival 2026’, held under the theme “From GI to Global Gastronomy.” The event took place during the “เที่ยว ชิม ช้อป Hlong Long Do” (Travel, Taste & Shop Hlong Long Do) fair and the “Chalong Agricultural Fair and Local Products Festival” at the rubber plantation grounds opposite the Chalong Subdistrict Municipality Office in Phuket. The event brought together representatives from government agencies, private organizations, the tourism industry, local entrepreneurs, and the public.
Now celebrating its 11th consecutive year’, the Phuket Lobster Festival will be held throughout August 1–31, 2026, with the objective of elevating Phuket Lobster, a registered Geographical Indication (GI) product, into one of Thailand’s culinary Soft Power assets. The festival aims to promote gastronomy tourism, strengthen the creative economy, and generate greater value for local farmers, fishermen, and tourism-related businesses across Phuket.
A major highlight of this year’s festival was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among seven key organizations to jointly develop and utilize the “Phuket Lobster” brand and its official mascot, “Nong Jung,” as promotional tools for GI products, tourism, cultural heritage, education, and the creative economy.
The participating organizations include:
- Phuket Provincial Community Development Office
- Phuket Provincial Commerce Office
- Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office
- Chalong Subdistrict Municipality
- Phuket Rajabhat University
- Phuket Tourist Association
- RooRak Samakkee Phuket Social Enterprise Co., Ltd.
The festival is being organized in conjunction with the “Travel, Taste & Shop Hlong Long Do” event, which features more than 140 local vendors and businesses, creating strong connections between Phuket’s seafood industry, community products, agriculture, and tourism.
Organizers expect the month-long festival to attract more than 30,000 visitors and generate at least THB 200 million in economic value, reinforcing Phuket’s ambition to become Thailand’s premier Gastronomy Destination while showcasing the island’s distinctive culinary identity to both domestic and international audiences.
The Phuket Lobster Festival 2026 reflects Phuket’s ongoing commitment to transforming its internationally recognized GI-certified Phuket Lobster into a globally recognized gastronomic icon. Through collaboration among government agencies, academia, local communities, and the private sector, the initiative seeks to enhance sustainable tourism, support local livelihoods, and strengthen Phuket’s position as one of Asia’s leading culinary destinations.
News/Photos – Phuket Provincial Public Relations Office