Surasak held talks with entrepreneurs from Pattaya and Chonburi to promote the "Thai Help Thai Plus" project supporting U-Tapao Airport and air ticketing, with plans to develop Tomorrowland to stimulate the economy.
At 2:00 p.m. on 17 July 2026, at the Grand Center Point Hotel Pattaya in Chonburi, Mr. Surasak Phanjaroenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, visited the area to chair a meeting to gather opinions and set development directions for tourism in Chonburi Province. The meeting included the governor of Chonburi, the Pattaya city secretary, representatives from U-Tapao Airport Authority, and delegates from eight private tourism organizations, aiming to integrate solutions and promote Chonburi-Pattaya as a quality tourism hub in the region.
The meeting atmosphere was constructive, with the private sector highlighting major issues such as declining occupancy rates, the crisis from conflicts affecting tourist numbers, the encroachment of public spaces by illegal tour groups and car rentals, and budget limitations for provincial development.
Mr. Surasak acknowledged the proposals and instructed relevant agencies to promptly implement proactive strategic measures, including:
1. Injecting economic stimulus measures (Co-Payment) and attracting funds from Mega Events.
The "Thai Help Thai Plus" project plans to launch a Co-Payment scheme offering 500,000 rights via the Paotang application to assist hotels, restaurants, spas, and car rental operators affected by price undercutting. If budget approval is granted, the project could kick off by October 2026 or early 2027. It also plans to attract AirAsia and Vietjet to expand routes alongside full support for the three-airport rail link project.
Preparing to develop Tomorrowland.
Additionally, discussions will be held in Belgium to bring the world-class Mega Event Tomorrowland to Thailand. A readiness survey will be conducted again in Chonburi Province to accommodate the vast number of foreign tourists. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been assigned to lead the creation of promotional packages for destination weddings and seminars to attract high-spending groups from India and domestic government agencies to Pattaya.
2. Overhauling security, cracking down on nominee operators, and implementing automatic passport scanning.
Instructions were given to the Department of Tourism and Tourist Police to rigorously crack down on illegal tour operators. Recently, the provincial commerce office has investigated and dealt with over 70 nominee cases.
The Tourist Police have provided Pattaya with one "smart mobile vehicle" equipped with AI facial recognition cameras linked to criminal and overstay databases to screen suspicious individuals and ensure tourist safety.
Automatic Passport Control (Auto Gate): Installation of Auto Gate machines for incoming passport checks is underway to reduce congestion at checkpoints. Currently, the system is available to travelers from Singapore and Hong Kong, with plans to expand access to other countries.
3. Establishing a "Thai Tourism Promotion Fund" and upgrading to "Wellness-Workation" tourism.
Tourist Care Fund: In response to Pattaya’s annual medical expenses for tourists exceeding 30 million baht, the ministry plans to establish a "Thai Tourism Promotion Fund" to provide accident insurance coverage for tourists, alongside strict enforcement of traffic laws.
Supporting AI technology for tourism in Si Chang: Responding to a proposal from the Sriracha and Si Chang Tourism Association to use AI technology to develop one-day trip tourism aimed at attracting digital nomads, elevating the area into a Workation-Wellness Destination.
4. Regarding area capacity development, the Office of Sustainable Tourism Development (OSD) collaborates with the Department of Tourism, Pattaya City, and related agencies. They are pushing for Pattaya to join UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network as a City of Film by 2027 to elevate the city’s potential as a regional hub for the film industry and creative tourism.
"Chonburi and Pattaya are vital to Eastern tourism. Today's meeting shows that when the government and private sector unite with a common goal, every problem has a solution. The Ministry of Tourism is ready to lead in breaking down barriers, coordinating with all ministries, and attracting new investments to ensure sustainable growth for Chonburi," said Mr. Surasak. Mr. Surasak concluded his remarks.