Surasak inspected Suvarnabhumi Airport to dispel reports of tourist overcrowding at immigration checkpoints. He ordered the rapid enhancement of the Automated Border Control (ABC) passport scanning system and emphasized eight strict measures by the Tourist Police to eliminate criminals at the airport.
On 16 July 2026, Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, led a team to Suvarnabhumi Airport to verify reports of congestion at the immigration checkpoints, where foreign tourists reportedly waited up to two hours to have their passports checked. Surasak urged urgent problem resolution and cooperation with the Immigration Bureau, Tourist Police Headquarters, and Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) to enhance convenience and maximum security.
Surasak revealed that Thailand's tourism sector is currently experiencing rapid growth. From 1 January to 11 July 2026, over 16,773,344 foreign tourists have entered Thailand, generating revenue exceeding 809.94 billion baht.
The top five tourist nationalities are China (2.75 million), Malaysia (2.18 million), India (1.27 million), Russia (1.04 million), and South Korea (611,000). With this massive influx, the government must urgently improve airport service systems to be faster and safer to maintain the country's positive image.
Additionally, Surasak monitored and expedited the installation of Automatic Border Channels (ABC) for arrivals, which will greatly increase passenger processing capacity alongside precise criminal record checks. He emphasized that deploying ABC technology will concretely reduce tourist waiting times, ensuring a welcoming first impression upon arrival in Thailand. Simultaneously, this system can conduct in-depth screening, guaranteeing that speed is matched with the highest security level.
Highlighting Eight Strict Measures
Beyond speed, the Minister of Tourism and Sports stressed "security" by reviewing reports from the Tourist Police Headquarters. Currently, they have integrated forces and are enforcing eight proactive measures strictly within Suvarnabhumi Airport:
1. Deploy patrol officers to assist tourists closely at the international arrivals baggage claim area.
2. Conduct joint patrols combining forces from AOT operations, military police, and Suvarnabhumi Airport Police covering the entire passenger terminal.
3. Inspect inbound and outbound tour groups with Tourist Police officers on-site within the terminal to maintain order and provide assistance.
4. Enforce strict regulation of public transport vehicles in coordination with the Department of Land Transport and AOT.
5. Install AI surveillance cameras after AOT approval to detect faces of wanted persons and enhance security.
6. Regulate passenger pick-up signage by requiring those holding signs inside the terminal to register, allowing authorities to verify whom they are picking up and their destinations.
7. Investigate connections between sign holders and drivers to prevent scams by analyzing links within transport networks.
8. Crack down on illegal taxis and criminal gangs by inspecting targeted vehicle groups, gathering intelligence, and advising tourists to download safe travel applications.
