Thai fruit carving masters display astonishing skills  Watch performances at travel fair and get free soap flower carvings

▲ A fruit carving teacher was invited to perform live at the Thai booth.

Reported and photographed by Chen Hanyin / Taipei

The 2016 ITF Taipei International Travel Fair kicked off in full swing today (the 4th), with major exhibitors pulling out all the stops to prepare a variety of shows and unbeatable discounts to grab a slice of the market. Among them, the Thai pavilion, brimming with rich Thai flavor, was truly eye-catching. This year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand specially invited fruit carving masters and lotus lantern making teachers to Taiwan to join in the festivities.

▲ The booth design is infused with strong Thai flavor.

In terms of booth design concept, it fully showcases the characteristics of various tourist attractions in Thailand, including an in-depth exploration of arts and culture in northern Thailand; a rural pastoral life experience in northeastern Thailand; a fashionable gourmet learning and growth journey in central Thailand; and a tropical marine adventure theme in southern Thailand. The stage

▲Carve delicate patterns on papaya with just a knife and a few strokes.

▲The finished fruit carvings are amazingly beautiful.

The most attractive part of the deals is that four Thai travel agencies have joined forces to offer special discounts to the public. A five-day Bangkok self-guided tour is available for just NT$7,900 (excluding taxes and visa fees), along with various discounts ranging from NT$1,000 to NT$3,000. Additional perks include free local SIM cards and service charges. The four-day travel fair stage activities will also give away 50 small floating lanterns and exquisitely carved soap art pieces.

▲Soap-carved flowers will be given out to the public for free at the event.