NATCON’Twenty6 confirms growing international appeal of naturism in Thailand

NATCON’Twenty6 brought together 121 naturists from 23 nationalities for four days of social activities, workshops, beach life, games and community spirit at Chivapuri Beach Resort and Tropical Beach Resort on Koh Chang.

The event was one of the strongest NATCON gatherings so far, according to the participants themselves.

A post-event evaluation completed by – so far – 42 participants showed very high satisfaction with the annual conference and gathering organized by Naturist Association Thailand.

Participants came from across Asia, Europe, Australia and North America, confirming NATCON’s status as the most international naturist events in Asia.

More than 88 percent rated the event either 4 or 5 out of 5 overall, while more than three quarters said they would definitely attend NATCON again. The NATCON concept was created back in 2012 by former chief organizer Bruce E. Kendall and took place at Chan Naturist Resort in Pattaya. Since then, the festival has been held every year except 2020 and 2021 in different locations across Thailand.

The strongest feedback after the conclusion of NATCON’Twenty6 – the 13th NATCON event – centered around the social atmosphere of the event.

Participants overwhelmingly reported that they felt welcome, relaxed, and included. Ratings for friendliness, inclusiveness and ease of meeting new people all scored particularly high.

This year’s NATCON was designed around a balance of organized activities and free social interaction. Throughout the long weekend, participants could choose between beach relaxation, swimming, yoga, discussion groups, games, workshops, photography activities, creative sessions, social gatherings and evening entertainment.

The annual NATCON Games again became one of the highlights of the event, helping participants from different countries quickly connect with each other in a relaxed and playful atmosphere.

Discussion groups and workshops also attracted strong participation, with many guests appreciating the opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives with naturists from many different cultures and backgrounds.

The evaluation showed that participants still experienced NATCON more as a close community gathering than as a large anonymous festival.

The venue itself also received strong support.

When asked about future NATCON locations, the largest group of respondents 41.5 pct. preferred a new location. But 34.1 pct. preferred returning to Chivapuri Beach Resort and Tropical Beach Resort. A minority group of 14.6 pct. wanted to return to Oriental Beach Village on Koh Ko Khao.

Most preferred a resort style beach location (36 respondents) with some preferring beach bungalow style accommodation. Second choice was a forest/nature setting with preferably resort style accommodation over bungalow style accommodation.

The evaluation also revealed a strong appetite for future growth.

Many participants expressed interest in:

• more activities
• more physical and social activities
• larger accommodation capacity
• additional flexibility in packages and participation options
• and even more opportunities for structured interaction

Naturist Association Thailand founder Gregers Moller said the feedback confirms that NATCON since the debut in 2021 has developed into something much bigger than a traditional conference.

“NATCON today is really about creating a safe and welcoming social space where true naturists from many cultures can meet and celebrate our naked lifestyle together in a big group,” he said.

“The evaluation shows that participants highly values the spacious and secluded area at the southern tip of Koh Chang, the atmosphere, the feeling of being close to nature, the openness and community spirit of the other participants. That is probably the most important success factor for us.”

Preparations for NATCON’Twenty7 are expected to begin later this year. The organizers say that feedback from this year’s evaluation will play an important role in shaping the next edition of the event.