The decision was made during the first provincial-level selection committee meeting for the project, held at Phuket Provincial Hall earlier this week. The meeting was chaired by Phuket Provincial Culture Officer Puangphaka Chaowai, with representatives from government agencies, the tourism sector, private organisations and cultural groups in attendance.
The Ministry of Culture’s ‘Thai Thai’ policy aims to identify and promote cultural heritage, stories and experiences that reflect Thai identity while supporting creative-economy development. Each province is tasked with selecting its most distinctive cultural asset to be promoted nationwide and internationally through learning resources, tourism routes and multimedia materials.
Phuket’s committee reviewed the national guidelines and confirmed its role in developing promotional content, including infographics and videos, for dissemination across a range of platforms.
Following detailed discussions, the committee unanimously selected ‘The Path of Faith: The Four City Pillar Shrines’, highlighting Phuket’s distinctive tradition of maintaining city pillars in all four cardinal directions ‒ north, south, east and west. The belief system, rooted in Hokkien Chinese and Baba-Peranakan heritage, reflects ancient customs in which sacred guardians were placed at every direction to ensure the city’s stability and protection.
The four shrines ‒ unique to Phuket, as most provinces have just one ‒ are seen as more than sacred landmarks. Cultural experts at the meeting described them as symbolic “pillars of Phuket’s identity”, connecting the island’s history of seafaring and tin mining with long-established community life and Sino-Portuguese artistic influences.
Officials also noted the potential for the ‘Path of Faith’ to be developed into a cultural tourism route, providing local economic benefits while deepening visitors’ understanding of Phuket beyond its image as a coastal resort destination.