A night with the Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT) governor:Thai tourism weathers challenging times
Schedule
Thu, 02 Oct, 2025 at 07:00 pm
UTC+07:00Location
Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand - FCCT | Nana Plaza, BR
[Members free, non-members 300 baht. Bar and restaurant open.]Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the governor of the tourism authority of Thailand, joins the FCCT for an exciting and exclusive discussion about the state of tourism in Thailand today and what lies ahead for Thailand in the coming months.
Volatile regional and global situations, economic headwinds, and competition from other destinations are just some of the factors that have made 2025 a challenging year for Thai tourism, which accounts for about 12% of GDP in Thailand, and indirectly impacts an even greater share of the economy.
Thailand is constantly looking for ways to boost tourism, from offering domestic subsidies and free plane tickets for visitors, to leveraging soft power initiatives that promote everything from food to film locations.
Traditionally TAT served as the marketing arm to promote Amazing Thailand, but it increasingly finds itself in a proactive role, advising local authorities in Thailand and contributing to the discussion about the nation’s tourism policies. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and its governor Thapanee Kiaphaibool play a key role in elaborating and implementing many of these initiatives.
How are source markets like China and India changing the tourism landscape? What is the role of domestic tourism? Have current events, ranging from safety concerns to natural disasters and border conflicts, impacted travel decisions? What should TAT do to temper these perceptions?
Sustainability and over-tourism concern the entire industry, but are these issues compatible with the economic growth forecast by TAT? What can TAT do to promote greener practices and promote secondary destinations while respecting local communities and the environment?
Visa waivers, arrival levies; MICE (meetings incentives, conventions, events); high-value, high-spending tourists; LGBT+ travel in the wake of the legalization of same-sex marriages: these are just some of the questions that Khun Thapanee will address. She will also take questions from journalists, industry leaders and the public.
Please join us for this lively one-on-one discussion on this timely topic.
Special guest: Thapanee Kiatphaibool joined the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in 1999 and has spent her entire career supporting the tourism industry in Thailand holding the positions of deputy governor for tourism products and business and deputy governor for domestic marketing before becoming governor in 2023
Discussant: Vincent Vichit-Vadakan is a writer who covers travel, food and the tourism and hospitality industries for a number of international publications. He is a member of the FCCT program committee.
Members who wish to book in advance should email [email protected] or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.
Non-members can use this link: https://www.ticketmelon.com/fccthai/is_thailand_still_amazing/
