Beijing, 20 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) signed Letters of Intent with China Tourism Group, Utour Group, China Comfort Travel Group, Amap and TCP Group on 19 July, establishing cooperation across tour operations, smart travel, digital services, brand marketing and in-destination experiences. The signing took place during Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul’s official visit to China from 16 to 20 July.

The agreements represent a practical outcome of the Thailand–China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, which is expanding bilateral engagement in economic development, investment, digital technology, innovation and people-to-people exchange. They aim to strengthen traveller confidence, improve the visitor journey and support sustainable growth in Thailand’s quality tourism market.

Building on the stable implementation of mutual visa exemption, the initiative reinforces TAT’s long-term commitment to China as a key international market. Tourism continues to support cultural understanding, economic activity and enduring ties between the Thai and Chinese people.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “By connecting travel businesses, digital platforms and consumer brands, TAT is carrying forward the government’s direction to strengthen confidence, improve the visitor journey and generate sustainable value for Thailand’s tourism industry.”

The Letters of Intent were signed on behalf of TAT by Miss Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Asia and South Pacific. The five partners were represented by Mr. Huang Jing, General Manager of the Leisure Travel Division at CTS Travel Service Co., Ltd., representing China Tourism Group; Mr. Cao Jian, Vice President of Utour Group; Ms. Zhou Renren, Assistant President of China Comfort Travel Group; Mr. Liu Li, General Manager of Amap’s Data Platform Business; and Mr. Supachai Junkeiat, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of TCP Group, the Thai-origin global beverage company behind the Red Bull brand, and President of TCP China.

Miss Pattaraanong said, “These partnerships connect key stages of the Chinese visitor journey, from inspiration and booking to mobility and experiences in Thailand. They provide practical channels to develop relevant products, reach group and independent travellers, raise service standards and translate strong people-to-people ties into measurable tourism outcomes.”

Together, the five frameworks support TAT’s development of a connected tourism ecosystem extending from destination awareness and travel planning to booking, mobility and experiences in Thailand.

With China Tourism Group, TAT will draw on the organisation’s integrated network to promote quality Thai tourism products and expand the quality Chinese visitor market.

Collaboration with Utour Group covers digital promotion of the Amazing Thailand brand, specialised products for leisure, wellness, honeymoons, weddings, study visits and cultural festivals, and wider distribution through travel agents, retail outlets, online travel agencies and social media.

TAT and China Comfort Travel Group will focus on destination promotion, new products, group travel, business events and special-interest segments. Additional areas include service and safety standards, tourism intelligence, industry training and access through the group’s nationwide network in China.

The Amap partnership will advance smart tourism through the Street Discovery Ranking, destination promotion and Thai–Chinese travel information services. These initiatives will improve convenience for Chinese independent travellers and strengthen TAT’s reach among quality visitor segments.

Under the Energetic Thailand concept, TAT and TCP Group will develop experiences linked to sport, music, health and lifestyle. TCP’s brand and communications network will support destination awareness, business events, workforce development and wider economic value for Thailand.

TAT will continue working with partners across sectors on joint marketing, tourism product development, travel facilitation and service improvement. These efforts will support safe, convenient and high-quality experiences for Chinese visitors while creating wider opportunities for Thai tourism businesses and destinations.

The post TAT signs five strategic partnerships in China to advance quality tourism to Thailand appeared first on TAT Newsroom.

Bangkok is preparing to expand its early childhood development centers to accept infants as young as 3 months old, addressing urban society's need for quality childcare and accelerating early child development from infancy.

On July 20, 2025, at the Din Daeng District Office, Sanon Wang Saangbun, Bangkok's Deputy Governor, chaired a learning exchange forum to gather feedback on the proposed Bangkok Regulation on Early Childhood Development Centers. Participants included administrators from the Social Development Office, Din Daeng District officials, and teachers from early childhood centers.

Sanon explained that the forum was designed to give frontline teachers the opportunity to contribute ideas and help shape new regulations that align with real conditions—rather than having rules imposed unilaterally by government. He stressed that effective regulations should emerge from collaborative input across all sectors, enabling more efficient early childhood care.

Bangkok currently has 239,413 children aged 0-6 years, with birth rates declining steadily. However, many children—particularly those aged 0-3—still lack access to quality care because most parents work full-time and there are insufficient childcare facilities. This leaves many young children without proper early developmental opportunities.

Sanon emphasized that early childhood development must begin in infancy because waiting until children are 4-5 years old may be too late for effective developmental support. The new regulations aim to address this gap by allowing early childhood centers to accept children from 3 months old, expanded from the previous age range of 2-6 years. The regulations will also set appropriate care standards for each age group and adjust caregiver-to-child ratios to suit younger children.

Additionally, Bangkok plans to support extended service hours at these centers to accommodate working parents with nonstandard schedules, while ensuring caregivers receive fair compensation for work outside standard office hours.

Sanon noted that Bangkok currently operates 258 early childhood centers, but only 39 can use city budget funds for facility improvements due to land-use restrictions. The city is coordinating with landowners—including temples, the Treasury Department, the National Housing Authority, and private sector entities—to enable ongoing center development.

Bangkok is also implementing quality-improvement measures including dust-free classrooms, proactive child development screening and assessments, professional development for caregivers, educational support to enhance qualifications, free-play activities, reading programs, and toy-lending services to promote proper early childhood development.

Sanon outlined three main pillars of the new regulations: expanding access to early childhood services, improving the quality of childcare, and supporting parents. The regulations will broaden budget-support criteria to cover materials, utilities, operational costs, and caregiver compensation, enabling centers to deliver quality care that meets current urban society's needs.

Bangkok welcomes all suggestions from childcare teachers and is committed to refining the regulations for maximum benefit and shared progress.

BEIJING, China — Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Cambodia's decision to pursue compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has undermined bilateral trust and made negotiations over the two countries' land border increasingly difficult.

Speaking in Beijing on Monday, Sihasak said Thailand had proposed during a meeting between the two countries' leaders on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Cebu that all outstanding issues be resolved through bilateral dialogue to build mutual trust.

Instead, he said, Cambodia chose to move forward with compulsory conciliation over maritime boundary disputes rather than engaging in direct talks first.

"At this point, it has effectively closed the door to discussions on the land border. That makes things much more difficult," Sihasak said.

He noted that UNCLOS provides several dispute-settlement mechanisms, including voluntary conciliation, and said compulsory conciliation should not have been pursued before both sides had exhausted bilateral negotiations.

Sihasak welcomed China's offer to facilitate dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia if needed, but stressed that border issues should ultimately be resolved directly between the two countries.

"We appreciate China's goodwill, but this is a matter that Thailand and Cambodia must discuss directly," he said.

He added that China could play a constructive role by encouraging Cambodia to honor the commitment made in Cebu to resolve disputes through bilateral dialogue while maintaining a neutral position.

Sihasak also said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had conveyed Thailand's appreciation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for Beijing's neutral approach to Thai-Cambodian relations.

However, he expressed concern over Cambodian media coverage of China's delivery of tanks to Cambodia, saying the reports came at a sensitive time when the ceasefire remains fragile and could further complicate relations between the two neighbors.

On Chinese investment in Thailand, Sihasak said Thailand welcomes quality, sustainable investment that complies with Thai law. While acknowledging that so-called "grey businesses" represent only a small portion of overall Chinese investment, he said such activities have affected public sentiment and urged China to address the issue.

Five men claiming to be narcotics officers from Chiang Mai Region 33 allegedly abducted an elephant handler and left him severely injured on a roadside. All five have surrendered, with a sergeant rank officer heading the operation and denying the charges. On July 20, 2025, more than 100 residents from Pang Chang village in Mae Taeng district, members of the Karen ethnic minority, gathered at the Chiang Mai Provincial Police Office with the victim's wife to demand justice. The wife wept as she submitted a formal complaint to Lt. Col. Yutthana Kaenjanchon, the provincial police commander. Yutthana disclosed that the victim remains hospitalized with severe injuries and cannot yet provide a statement.

Chiang Mai provincial police determined that the perpetrators were five officers from Region 33's narcotics task force, led by a sergeant. Two officers have already confessed, and three others submitted their intent to surrender today. Investigators have questioned witnesses and the victim's family. Initial charges of "abuse of authority" have been filed, with additional charges pending the victim's statement and further evidence. The case will also be referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The accused officers deny wrongdoing, claiming they were performing legitimate duties and that the victim fell from their vehicle and was not seriously injured at the time. They stated they transported him to the location where he was found. However, no other witnesses have yet corroborated their account. Investigators await the victim's statement to establish the facts.

The victim's wife tearfully described her husband as the family's sole breadwinner, now uncertain how she and their children will survive financially. She has submitted letters requesting help from Chiang Mai's ruling party parliamentarians and appealed directly to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for justice. She also filed a separate request for aid from the ruling party representatives in the province, calling for fairness toward the Karen ethnic community.

Thailand's Government Public Relations Department (PRD) has taken a major step forward in international media cooperation, signing three Memorandums of Understanding with some of China's most influent...

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, Monday, July 13th to Sunday, July 19th. They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication. A massive fire ripped through a well-known beer pub […] Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Bangkok Pub Fire Death Toll Reaches 34, and More -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.