On July 7, Chiang Mai University's College of Lifelong Learning advanced its lifelong learning mission to promote national development through the Young Public and Private Collaboration (YPC) project in Tak Province. The initiative aims to equip emerging leaders with artificial intelligence skills combined with empirical data analysis and multi-sector participation to co-design strategic plans and development approaches aligned with provincial context and actionable on the ground.

The project serves as an integration platform for collaboration among government, private sector, education, and networks of young professionals in Tak Province. Participants jointly analyzed regional strengths and challenges including border trade, high-value agriculture, tourism, local goods and resources, as well as quality of life and long-term urban development before collectively determining development directions based on real data and stakeholder input.

Chiang Mai University's College of Lifelong Learning designed the learning process and transferred knowledge on AI application to support data discovery, analysis, and synthesis for strategic planning. The focus emphasized using technology as a tool to enhance decision-making efficiency while maintaining human verification and data validation, ensuring policy proposals and plans are accurate, contextually appropriate, and practically implementable.

Project participants jointly developed concepts and initiatives to advance Tak Province across multiple dimensions, including adding value to agricultural and geographical indication products, developing tourism potential, linking border trade and logistics systems, and creating collaboration mechanisms among young professionals, government, private sector, and educational institutions to drive learning-derived proposals into regional implementation.

Beyond AI knowledge and skills development, the project established collaboration networks among young civil servants, young entrepreneurs, and partner organizations in Tak Province, creating spaces for information and experience exchange among practitioners—a critical factor in designing policies and development projects responsive to public needs and regional economic growth.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayalak Pichayakul, Deputy Director of Chiang Mai University's College of Lifelong Learning, stated that AI is an important tool enabling faster and more comprehensive data discovery and analysis. However, quality strategic planning requires human review and data verification to ensure proposals are accurate, contextually appropriate, and practically beneficial.

The project's significance extends beyond participant capacity development to establishing a model for area development that integrates knowledge, technology, and multi-sector collaboration, ensuring urban development direction is grounded in data and stakeholder participation—a crucial approach to strengthening local capacity and advancing sustainable national development. Based on Tak Province's success, Chiang Mai University has expanded the initiative further.

Villagers in Dok Khamtai district of Phayao were surprised after a rare bridal veil stinkhorn mushroom emerged on the forest floor at the edge of their village, prompting many residents to photograph the unusual fungus, which is only occasionally seen.

The mushroom, known in Thai as hed rang rae, is also commonly called the bridal mushroom, bamboo pith mushroom or skirt mushroom because of its distinctive appearance. It features a brownish-green conical cap and a delicate white net-like veil hanging around its stalk, resembling a bride's lace dress.

Despite its elegant appearance, the mushroom produces a strong odour similar to rotting flesh. The smell is a natural adaptation that attracts flies and other insects, which feed on the slimy coating covering the cap and help disperse its spores.

The bridal veil stinkhorn typically grows in damp environments, including bamboo forests, mixed deciduous forests, orchards and areas covered with decaying leaves and rotting wood. It is most commonly found during the rainy season, from May to October.

The fungus has a very short lifespan. Its lace-like veil unfurls within hours before the mushroom quickly withers, making sightings rare and adding to its reputation as one of Thailand's more remarkable natural wonders.

On July 7, Dr. Hascha Neuoytong, the provincial public health officer for Maha Sarakham, addressed criticism surrounding the liver fluke screening program that found a large number of positive cases, raising concerns from multiple parties that the testing kit had low specificity and might produce many false positives.

Dr. Hascha clarified that the screening was a Maha Sarakham provincial health office project, with the office managing the program and screening at-risk populations. The testing used an innovation unit registered with the National Health Security Office (NHSO), which provided the testing service and funded it—not a kit the provincial office procured independently.

The testing kit, called the Urine Antigen Test Kit (Urine ATK), detects antigens from urine in a manner similar to COVID-19 ATK kits but identifies fragments of the liver fluke parasite rather than parasite eggs. "In the past, Thailand used stool examinations viewed under microscopes to find parasite eggs, which worked well because Thai people carried significant parasite loads, producing many eggs in stool," Dr. Hascha explained. "However, today Thai people use deworming medication more frequently, so parasite loads have decreased, leading to fewer eggs in stool and more false negative results from traditional screening."

Dr. Hascha noted that researchers from Khon Kaen University developed the new antigen detection technique to find parasite antigens in urine—pieces of the parasite such as waste it releases into the bloodstream or naturally shed skin fragments detectable in urine.

"Out of approximately 10,000 at-risk people screened, we found about 4,000 positive cases," Dr. Hascha stated. "Antigen testing detects infections better than stool egg detection because the absence of eggs doesn't mean no infection—parasites may not be releasing eggs yet or release so few they're undetectable. Antigen testing directly detects parasite fragments."

When asked if the screening covered everyone using this method, Dr. Hascha confirmed it did, screening many people simultaneously. The screening has tested over 10,000 people, finding approximately 4,000 positive cases as previously reported.

Dr. Hascha acknowledged the high detection rate was concerning, as previous control efforts were believed to have improved the situation based on lower stool test findings. "However, with this new testing method, we must reconsider whether the prevalence truly decreased or simply appeared lower with the old method. Further studies are needed to confirm the accuracy of antigen test results," he said. The Department of Disease Control is preparing to visit Maha Sarakham to investigate further.

The Government Housing Bank has organized service teams to assist customers signing housing loan agreements under a government initiative slashing transfer and mortgage registration fees. The program cuts transfer fees to 0.01% from the standard 2% and mortgage registration fees to 0.01% from 1% for residential properties not exceeding 7 million baht. The measure is effective from April 22, 2025, through June 30, 2026. On June 29, 2026, substantial numbers of GHB customers arrived to sign housing loan agreements. Dr. Mahattana Ampornpisit, Managing Director, along with senior executives, led teams providing full customer support and convenience. Customers described the fee-reduction initiative as an excellent measure that lowers their costs and leaves them with extra money for daily living expenses. They expressed appreciation to the government for implementing the program for the public benefit.

Bangkok, 7 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organised “TAT x DMCs: Communities ConNext” on 2 July 2026 at Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit as a pilot workshop with destination management companies (DMCs) to position 55 community destinations for inclusion in long-haul market programmes.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “Community tourism is central to TAT’s Value over Volume direction, linking quality revenue with meaningful travel experiences and sustainable local development. TAT is working with public-sector and private-sector partners, communities, and tourism networks to strengthen tourism products and services to enhance market readiness. Through this workshop, we are connecting community strengths with long-haul traveller demand and reinforcing the long-term competitiveness of Thailand’s community tourism.”

The workshop brought together TAT’s long-haul market teams and DMC partners serving Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. As key partners working closely with the overseas travel trade, DMCs joined TAT to exchange market insights, assess community readiness in terms of information, standards, and local potential, and co-design routes suited to international tour operators and travel agents.

Participants identified strong potential among many Thai community destinations, with Thai tourism products and services continuing to attract international interest. To help communities reach long-haul markets more effectively, further readiness is needed in visitor information, promotional channels, service standards, sustainability practices, and trade support tools for DMCs.

Current traveller behaviour also supports this direction, with visitors placing greater importance on responsible tourism, local conservation, community lifestyles, and ‘Smart Spending’. Gen Z travellers in long-haul markets are seeking meaningful experiences through local culture, ways of life, and destination identities seen from fresh perspectives.

This collaboration between TAT and DMCs marks another step in developing community tourism routes that respond to long-haul market demand, expand income distribution to communities and local areas, and support the sustainable growth of Thailand’s tourism industry.

The post TAT x DMCs: Communities ConNext brings Thai local identity to long-haul trade appeared first on TAT Newsroom.