Surasak, Minister of Tourism and Sports, accepts the Thai Chamber of Commerce's proposals to enhance safety, wellness, and Mekong River tourism to drive Thai tourism toward quality and sustainability. The Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Chamber of Commerce Council presented these initiatives.
On 10 Jun 2026 GMT+7, reporters stated that the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Chamber of Commerce Council met with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the Government House to exchange views and propose ways to drive the country's economy. Surasak Phanjaroenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, along with other cabinet members and relevant agencies, attended the meeting.
The private sector proposed key measures to elevate Thailand's tourism industry, including developing tourist safety through the Andaman Tourism Safety Sandbox project in Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga, promoting the Andaman Wellness Corridor to position Thailand as a global health tourism center, and encouraging tourism connectivity among the seven provinces along the Mekong River to boost the region's tourism potential.
Minister Surasak expressed gratitude to the Thai Chamber of Commerce and its council for presenting feedback and development directions for regional tourism, which align with the ministry's policies emphasizing quality, safety, and sustainability in Thailand's tourism industry.
The Department of Tourism, under the ministry, is integrating cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant agencies to prevent and suppress illegal tourism businesses, particularly the use of nominees to disguise ownership, to ensure fairness for Thai operators and build confidence among tourists.
Following discussions with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese side requested cooperation to avoid using the term "gray Chinese" to prevent damage to the image of Chinese tourists and the majority of law-abiding Chinese citizens wishing to visit Thailand.
Regarding the development of Mekong River tourism, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is ready to continuously implement private sector proposals to enhance tourism connectivity and create economic opportunities for border provinces and areas along the Mekong River.
Furthermore, the ministry is pushing forward the collection of foreign tourist fees, which has received in-principle approval from the Committee for the Fund to Promote Thai Tourism. Part of the revenue will be used to develop and restore tourist sites, as well as to raise safety standards and facilities, aiming to provide quality and sustainable tourism experiences in the long term.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is prepared to integrate cooperation with all sectors to position Thailand as a world-class quality tourism destination, based on the concepts of quality, safety, and sustainability, which will create added economic value and distribute income to communities nationwide in a tangible way," the Minister said.