"Surasak and Suksamruay" visited Yasothon to promote the community tourism and farmstay model, highlighting the unique "Malaikhaokok" garland, aiming to sustainably elevate the grassroots economy and generate income for local areas.
Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, together with Ms. Suksamruay Wantanayakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, visited Yasothon Province to monitor community tourism development and grassroots economic advancement, delivering policies to provincial executives, local government organizations, community leaders, and tourism operators in Maha Chana Chai District, Yasothon.
Mr. Surasak said Yasothon has strengths in culture, local wisdom, and distinctive lifestyles which can be developed into quality tourism. If all sectors seriously integrate their efforts, it will create jobs, professions, and increase income for local people concretely. The Ministry is ready to support community tourism development, upgrade operator standards, improve products and services, and create tourism networks to strengthen and sustain the grassroots economy.
Ms. Suksamruay stated that developing community tourism truly creates economic opportunities for local people. She emphasized the importance of cooperation between government agencies, the private sector, and communities to enhance Thailand’s tourism potential for balanced and sustainable growth.
The delegation visited the Malaikhaokok Museum in Fa Yard Subdistrict, Maha Chana Chai District, a local wisdom learning center that preserves knowledge on crafting the "Malaikhaokok" garland—a unique handicraft of Yasothon linked to major Isan traditions, especially the Rocket Festival. They listened to suggestions on developing cultural tourism sites to increase community product value, connect tourism with the creative economy, offer meaningful experiences to tourists, and conserve cultural heritage.
They also visited "Baan Suan Permsuk Farmstay" in Bak Rua Subdistrict, Maha Chana Chai District, a community tourism model combining agriculture with experiential tourism. They exchanged views with operators on upgrading accommodation and services, adding value to agricultural products, and promoting marketing so that farmstays become key mechanisms for generating income and distributing economic opportunities locally.
At the end, the Minister of Tourism emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to promoting "community tourism" as a crucial mechanism to distribute income to local areas. The focus is on developing distinctive tourism sites, providing valuable experiences to tourists, and linking with the creative economy to drive stable grassroots economic growth, in line with the government’s policy to upgrade the country's quality tourism.
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