Thailand Splits Sports Ministry, Establishes Independent Sports Institute
Thailand is splitting its sports ministry into an independent entity while merging tourism with culture, with an autonomous sports science institute to support athletes without external interference by late 2025.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is advancing structural reforms according to Prime Minister Anuthim Chanyaveerakul's policy, which calls for separating sports into a standalone ministry while merging tourism operations with the Culture Ministry.
Minister Surasak Phandcharoenvorakul announced that the Cabinet would present the framework for implementation at its July 7, 2025 meeting. The Sports Ministry will become independent while tourism will merge into a new "Ministry of Culture and Tourism." A critical reform involves establishing an independent Institute of Sports Science, separate from the Thai Sports Authority (TAT), to operate more efficiently and autonomously while serving Thai athletes and the public without any interference. The independent doping control center will also maintain complete autonomy, free from external influence. The government expects to achieve this restructuring by late 2025 or early 2026, ahead of the original three-year timeline.
Minister Surasak also announced plans to revive the Prime Minister's Cup football tournament for youth and the general public. The competition would feature age groups of 14, 16, and 18 years across all provinces, with matches organized at district, regional, and national levels in Bangkok. The ministry is currently evaluating the budget required for this initiative. By establishing this tournament nationwide, the government hopes to develop young talent that could eventually feed into national teams and professional football, making the public investment worthwhile.
