“Zabida” acknowledges that the Bhumjaithai Party is discussing merging the Ministries of Culture and Tourism. She reveals that Prime Minister Anutin wants the process completed within six months after the government is formed, noting that strategic planning is more important than restructuring.
At 09:55 on 10 March 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Zabida Thaiseth, Minister of Culture, spoke at the Government House about the possibility of combining tourism with the Ministry of Culture, leaving only the Ministry of Sports separate. She acknowledged that discussions have already taken place within the Bhumjaithai Party. This aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who sees that Thailand’s multiculturalism is underutilized, so tourism should be linked to culture. This led to the idea of merging the Culture and Tourism Ministries.
When asked whether she has been approached to continue as Minister of Culture to carry forward this mission, Ms. Zabida said she is not yet aware and has only learned about it from news reports. Regarding how many months the merger would take, Ms. Zabida said the aim is to complete it as quickly as possible, but after discussions with the Prime Minister, he wants it finished within six months. The actual implementation will depend on the complexities encountered. The key issue is not the restructuring itself, but using funds from tourism and cultural exports to develop the country’s strategic planning.
