UDON THANI, Thailand – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has rejected the practice of putting up large welcome banners featuring him for Cabinet visits, saying such displays serve no purpose and are not part of the government’s policy. Anutin made the remarks on Aug. 30 at Udon Thani International Airport after being asked about a post by the Songkhla Public Relations Office showing preparations to welcome the Cabinet for an official off-site meeting in Songkhla. The post drew criticism online, with some questioning whether the banners amounted to unnecessary spending of taxpayers’ money. Anutin said the banners had never been requested or desired by him and that, in his view, they should not have been made.
Asked whether he had instructed provinces to avoid elaborate receptions, the prime minister said he had repeatedly made his position clear. He pointed to his own visit to Udon Thani, saying he had travelled there without an elaborate reception. He said such displays did not benefit him and could even expose those involved to criticism.
Anutin also questioned what would happen to large banners after the Cabinet visit was over, joking that they could not simply be turned into bags or other useful items. He added that there was no need to put his face on banners because people already recognize him.
Asked whether other provinces should also avoid making similar banners, Anutin said the government had no policy or desire for such displays. He acknowledged that the people preparing them may have acted out of goodwill, and noted that many organizers had said the banners were not funded by the state budget but were produced voluntarily. Nevertheless, he urged them not to do so.
The controversy comes ahead of the Cabinet’s off-site meeting in Songkhla, scheduled for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Preparations for the visit had included welcome banners across parts of Hat Yai and Songkhla, prompting debate online over their purpose and cost. Anutin’s comments underline his preference for a low-key approach to provincial visits, with government activities focused on meeting people, hearing local concerns and addressing practical problems rather than ceremonial displays. The prime minister has therefore made clear that welcome banners featuring him are neither requested by the government nor necessary for Cabinet visits, even when local authorities or businesses intend them as gestures of goodwill.
