Thailand to Split Tourism and Sports Ministry by Early Next Year

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Panjareungvorkul announced on July 27 at Government House that the proposed separation of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will be submitted to parliament during the upcoming session. After cabinet approval, the plan will undergo three parliamentary readings before being sent to the Senate, with completion expected by the end of this year or early next year, in line with the Civil Service Commission's recommendations. The new ministries will be named the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with clearly allocated budgets for each department.

Regarding concerns about budget reductions, the minister clarified that the existing budgets for sports and tourism operations will remain separate and clearly defined across all departments. Surasak expressed enthusiasm about UNESCO's formal recognition of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn in Nakhon Si Thammarat as a World Heritage site, marking the first such monument in southern Thailand. This designation presents an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of Nakhon Si Thammarat among international tourists, as most foreign visitors currently concentrate on Phuket, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Hat Yai in Songkhla.

The ministry is prepared to launch additional promotional campaigns and coordinate with international travel agencies to attract more foreign visitors to Nakhon Si Thammarat and surrounding areas. When asked about other sites under consideration for World Heritage status, the minister mentioned that the Culture Ministry is actively working on Thai traditional costume recognition, though other site nominations remain less developed. Thai costume registration with UNESCO is expected to advance further and is anticipated to be another source of national pride.