Between 20–25 June 2025, Mr. Suppachoke Laongphet, Mayor of Phuket City, delegated Ms. Natvara Suttisattyaporn, Director of the Division of Tourism and Sports, along with Associate Professor Dr. Tatiyaporn Jarumaneerat, Head of the Department of Hospitality and Business Management, Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism, Prince of Songkla University (Phuket Campus), in her capacity as the Focal Point for international coordination, and officers from the Division of Tourism and Sports, to participate in the 17th Annual Meeting of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The meeting was held under the theme “Culture and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of the UNESCO Creative Cities”.

Representatives from more than 350 Creative Cities across over 100 countries attended this event, which was organized jointly by UNESCO and the city of Enghien-les-Bains, a Creative City of Media Arts. The participants explored new avenues for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into cultural development while promoting sustainable urban growth.

Key discussions focused on the transformative intersection of technology, culture, and sustainability, addressing both the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. The meeting underscored UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing responsible and ethical use of AI to foster creativity and enhance cultural values.

Prominent topics included cultural collaboration through AI, with cities presenting initiatives that harness technology for cultural innovation. The Creative Cities Agora served as a platform for exchange among cities, emphasizing cultural innovation and development through collaboration. Furthermore, the meeting played a strategic role in shaping the network’s direction through the presentation of an “Action Plan”, a roadmap developed in response to the findings of UNESCO's Internal Oversight Service (IOS), aimed at enhancing the global impact of the network.

The UCCN Annual Meeting serves as a critical platform that reinforces the role of the network as a flagship program of UNESCO centered on cities, contributing significantly to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in the area of culture. This year’s discussions also contributed to shaping the outcomes of the upcoming MONDIACULT 2025 Conference, reaffirming the global call for “Culture” to be recognized as a standalone goal in the post-2030 development agenda.

Following the UCCN Annual Meeting 2024 held in Braga, Portugal, the 2025 meeting also focused on continuing the momentum of the “Braga Manifesto: A Culture Goal for Sustainable Development,” which was endorsed by mayors of Creative Cities around the world. The manifesto advocates for global cooperation to establish culture as a dedicated development goal, highlighting the critical role of cities in driving forward creative cultural policies and integrating culture as a central pillar in future urban development strategies.

In addition to formal meetings, the event featured various side activities that showcased the potential of AI to transform cultural landscapes. These activities demonstrated how technology can elevate cultural life, foster public engagement, and promote creativity in diverse forms.