Culture Ministry Merges Tourism Functions to Cut Bureaucratic Overlap
Thailand's cabinet approved a plan to merge tourism functions into a new Ministry of Culture and Tourism to reduce bureaucratic overlap, with implementation expected over four years starting with a preparation phase.
Culture Minister Sabida Thaiset disclosed that the cabinet has endorsed the draft law to restructure government ministries, departments, and bureaus by establishing a new Ministry of Culture and Tourism alongside a separate Ministry of Sports. The bill will now proceed to the Office of the Council of State for review before being sent to parliament. Staffing levels and budgets will not be increased in principle, though flexibility will be maintained to match assigned functions as both ministries negotiate which personnel and tasks to transfer.
The five key tourism functions to be transferred to the Culture Ministry include policy matters, the Department of Tourism, provincial tourism and sports office operations nationwide, tourism-related agencies, and coordination with the Tourism Police Command. The new structure will feature two main function groups: one handling cultural heritage, identity, and cultural capital, and another managing cultural economics and tourism.
The Culture Ministry has outlined a three-phase implementation plan: the first six months for preparation and task transfer; the second phase over two years for studying international case studies and developing administrative systems, laws, structures, and personnel; and the third phase completing full reform within four years. Culture Ministry, Tourism and Sports officials, and central agencies have established a working group to prepare for the transition with ongoing progress meetings and consultation with all stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation and address concerns.
