Events
Thailand has long been rightfully considered the massage capital of the world. A new Guinness Book record, recently set by Thai massage therapists, has once again confirmed this status.
Thai massage therapists have set a new world record for simultaneous massage sessions. For 12 minutes, 641 massage therapists stroked, mashed and tapped the bodies of 641 clients at the Bangkok exhibition hall. The mass massage session was organized by the Ministry of Health. The purpose of the campaign is to increase the popularity of Thai massage and Thai spa industry in the world.
The previous world record for mass massage was set in Australia in 2010. At that time, 263 massage therapists and, accordingly, 263 clients took part in the campaign. The session lasted only 5 minutes. Thus, the record set in Thailand exceeds the Australian record by more than twice — both in terms of the number of participants who took part in the campaign and the duration of the massage session.
“It was not at all difficult for us to take part in the campaign because we were doing our daily work that gives us a livelihood,” says Chaynan Chanwuttisawan, 53 ), one of the massage therapists participating in the campaign. — I am proud of myself and my profession. I never thought I would be able to take part in such an important event.”
By the way, most of the massage therapists who took part in setting the new world record are women.
It should be noted that clients who took part in the promotion did not fully enjoy the massage. Traditionally, a world-famous Thai massage lasts 2 hours. Nevertheless, clients probably enjoyed lying on sky blue mattresses, listening to the sounds of nature and feeling the magical touch of massage therapists — true masters of their craft.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Health of Thailand, there are about 50,000 massage therapists working in the state. The annual revenue of the Thai spa industry reaches 13 million baht, which is approximately $415 million.
Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri says that the Thai spa industry can generate more revenue and this is worth striving for. Thailand's National News Agency reports that “the government has set a goal to attract as many tourists as possible.” To this end, all measures will be taken to improve the skills of massage therapists, and a massage center will be opened at each Thai hospital.