Business General Ministry restructuring a tourism priority EXPLAINER: Reorganising fragmented administration of a major industry essential to more effective promotion PUBLISHED : 11 Jul 2026 at 06:11 NEWSPAPER SECTION: Business WRITER: Molpasorn Shoowong –> Small Medium Large –> 1 The Tourism and Sports Ministry is going to be cleaved into a dedicated Sports Ministry and a Culture and Tourism Ministry. When the Bhumjaithai Party assumed government leadership earlier this year, one of its key tourism priorities was to restructure the Tourism and Sports Ministry, creating a dedicated Sports Ministry and merging the Tourism and Culture ministries. This proposal is not new, raised by previous governments to promote tourism and sports more effectively. There are several approaches to managing and developing the tourism industry that depend on a strategic vision and long-term objectives. WHAT ARE THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES? In 2002, the Tourism and Sports Ministry was established under the Reorganisation of Ministries, Sub-Ministries and Departments Act. The ministry is tasked with promoting and developing tourism and sports, while overseeing state enterprises, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Sports Authority of Thailand. The minister is responsible for enforcing key legislation, including the 2001 Tourism Council of Thailand Act, the 1992 Tourism Business and Guide Act, and the 1999 Boxing Act. Yuthasak Supasorn, former governor of the TAT and current chairman of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, said tourism is closely intertwined with a wide range of sectors, including the economy, culture, infrastructure, the environment, sports and even foreign affairs. Although Thailand is heavily dependent on tourism, its public administration of the sector is marked by “fragmented governance”, with authority spread across more than 20 organisations under the Tourism, Culture, Transport and Interior ministries, he noted. This fragmented structure has imposed significant hidden economic costs, as the lack of policy…
Source: Bangkok Post Business