The Ministry of Tourism and Sports manages tourism and sports affairs in Thailand. integrates efforts jointly the Ministry of Transport advances and drives forward rail tourism while promoting new tourism models to stimulate the economy of secondary cities during the low season
On 2 June 2026 GMT+7, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, together with the Ministry of Transport, moved forward to elevate Thailand’s tourism industry by holding a meeting to discuss collaborative integration strategies. The goal is to promote "rail tourism" as a new tourism product, aiming to distribute income to communities and stimulate tourism in secondary cities during the off-season (low season).
The meeting took place at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, chaired jointly by Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, and Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Deputy Minister of Transport. Senior executives from government agencies and representatives from the private sector participated fully in the discussions.
Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, revealed that the Ministry of Transport has developed tourism train services with strong potential, especially the Kiha 183 diesel air-conditioned trains and the SRT Royal Blossom trains, which were received from Japan and refurbished to be beautiful and well-suited to tourists. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is ready to further support and enhance these efforts to achieve greater perfection.
Additionally, the ministry recognizes the potential of Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), which has a long history and distinctive architecture. They plan to promote it as a central hub and starting point for tourism routes so visitors can experience historical ambiance before traveling to various provinces.
The Minister of Tourism and Sports assigned the Department of Tourism to supervise tour guide standards, service quality of operators, and the development of feeder transport systems to facilitate tourists upon arrival at destination stations. Furthermore, the Sustainable Tourism Development Special Area Organization (Public Organization), or STDSAO, was tasked with managing route connections to ensure income distribution reaches communities concretely.
Moreover, the meeting included gathering feedback from related agencies and the private sector to improve and develop service quality further.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chaturon Phakdeewanit, Director-General of the Department of Tourism, presented key challenges requiring integrated solutions: 1. Increasing the number of trains to meet growing rail tourism demand; 2. Developing reservation systems that can accommodate tourists comprehensively; 3. Leveraging the potential of century-old historic railway stations as tourism attractions; and 4. Upgrading facilities and restrooms both at stations and on trains.
Mr. Siripakorn Chiaosamut, Director of STDSAO, stated that current tourists are willing to pay higher prices for convenience and seek flexible connecting travel options.
Mr. Nithi Sipphongsang, a tourism operator representative, emphasized the importance of upgrading infrastructure to achieve "Tourism for All," particularly improving ramps and facilities to standard, enabling elderly and disabled tourists to access services equally and sustainably.
However, Mr. Chamnan Srisawat, former Chairman of the Tourism Industry Council of Thailand, expressed that today marks a positive new beginning and hope for those in the tourism sector, as the two ministers jointly push forward projects that will foster long-term tourism development.