Thailand outlines five policies to revitalize tourism
Dhaka: The government of Thailand has recently unveiled five key policies aimed at revitalizing the country's tourism industry and driving long-term sustainable growth, said the country's public relations department.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Phancharoenworakul announced the policies during a visit to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, where he met with representatives from both the public and private sectors.
The minister said the first two policies center on merging the Ministry of Tourism and Sports with the Ministry of Culture.
The potential move is aimed at strengthening Thailand's cultural appeal, uniqueness, and national identity to establish a distinctive and cohesive tourism brand. Additionally, converting cultural assets into tangible revenue opportunities would maximize tourism's contribution to the broader economy.
The third policy involves introducing a foreign tourist fee to support the Thailand Tourism Fund, with proceeds directed toward improving tourist care, safety, and the skills of the country's tourism workforce.
Phancharoenworakul said the fourth proposes a departure tax on outbound Thai travelers on international flights to encourage domestic travel and support local communities. The government is currently reviewing both the potential benefits and trade-offs of the measure before any decision is finalized.
The last policy seeks to redistribute tourism more evenly across the country by reducing over-concentration at major destinations and drawing attention to secondary cities and lesser-known areas that remain underexplored.
Balancing economic ambition with cultural preservation and community development, Thailand appears set to pursue a more distinctive and sustainable path in its tourism strategy going forward.
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