BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul met with major tourism operators, led by Minister of Tourism and Sports Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, to discuss recommendations to support Thailand’s tourism recovery in 2025.
The Tourism and Sports Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Natreeya Taweewong, Department of Tourism Director-General Jaturon Phakdeewanit, and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. The delegation included representatives from the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), the Thai Travel Services Association (TTSA), the Thai Hotels Association (THA), and the Airlines Association of Thailand.
The delegation proposed urgent measures to be implemented within the next three months, which include strengthening safety and confidence among travelers, implementing proactive communication strategies to counter negative social media narratives, and stimulating demand through global-level safety campaigns. Additional recommendations included offering fare incentives for domestic and international flights and introducing tax measures to boost domestic tourism.
For medium- and long-term strategies, the private sector encouraged the National Tourism Policy Committee to accelerate six priority initiatives. These focus on revising tourism-related legislation, enhancing service standards, developing infrastructure—particularly in secondary destinations—encouraging investment in globally competitive tourism products, and reshaping Thailand’s tourism brand. They also emphasized that timely government action is essential, warning that Thailand risks being downgraded from a “top destination” to merely “one of many choices” for global travelers if significant improvements are not made.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to supporting the tourism industry. He highlighted opportunities arising from his recent visit to China, noting that government-to-government discussions could pave the way for expanded travel between the two countries. He added that the anticipated visit by the Chinese Premier may provide an opportunity to advance Thailand–China tourism cooperation, with TAT considering a tourism-related memorandum of understanding to promote long-term, sustainable tourism exchange. (NNT)
