ALSA 2025 meeting

Thailand’s rich biodiversity and deep-rooted traditional knowledge provide a strong foundation for the development of Geographical Indications (GIs), which link distinctive local products to their specific geographic origins. GIs are recognised as community rights, ensuring equitable benefit distribution and strengthening local identity. The importance and benefits of GIs have attracted considerable attention from the Thai government, making Thailand one of the leading ASEAN member states in strengthening GI protection. Thailand has a sui generis Geographical Indications Protection Act, adopted in 2003, which entered into force in 2004. As of January 2025, Thailand has registered 247 GI products, including 224 domestic GIs that cover all 77 provinces, achieving the goal of at least one GI per province. Additionally, nine Thai GI products have gained international recognition through registration in seven foreign jurisdictions, including the European Union, reflecting growing global appreciation for Thailand’s unique products.

GIs serve as powerful tools for sustainable development by enhancing economic opportunities, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting environmental stewardship. GIs address the three core dimensions of sustainability, namely, economic, social, and environmental, by fostering rural development, attracting investment, boosting tourism, and creating employment. In Thailand, GIs empower communities by reinforcing local identity, promoting equitable benefit-sharing, and supporting community-led development. This results in increased income, cultural heritage preservation, and environmental conservation, advancing Thailand’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this study aims to explore the development of GIs in Thailand, highlights key achievements, and examines challenges and opportunities for leveraging GIs as strategic tools for sustainable development. The findings contribute to understanding how GIs can promote economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability in Thailand and outline possible paths forward for strengthening the role of GIs in advancing the country’s long-term sustainability goals.