Phu sing district: Mr. Surasak Panjaroenvorakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, along with his delegation, paid a visit to Phu Sing District in Sisaket Province to assess the tourism situation and address the challenges faced by residents in the border area. This initiative follows the Prime Minister's directive to expedite the recovery of the economy, trade, and tourism in provinces affected by unrest, aiming to implement concrete measures to stimulate travel and provide income for the community.
According to Thai News Agency, during the field visit, Mr. Surasak and his team honored the remains of Luang Pu Suang at Wat Phai Phatthana in Phusing District. He emphasized that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is focusing on the development of faith tourism, which is a significant potential of Sisaket Province. This effort aligns with the government's "10 Plus" policy, specifically the "Community Plus" dimension, which aims to enhance local cultural and religious resources to create sustainable economic value.
Mr. Surasak announced that the Ministry plans to organize a significant, multi-day event later this year to commemorate Luang Pu Suang, aiming to attract devout tourists from across the country and abroad while distributing income to local businesses and residents.
Additionally, Mr. Surasak disclosed ongoing discussions between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Finance to expedite details for the "Thai Tourism Plus" project. This initiative seeks to offer benefits or special support measures for tourists visiting affected border provinces such as Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, Surin, Sa Kaeo, Trat, and Chanthaburi. The goal is to incentivize travel, stimulate spending, and help revive the grassroots economy of border communities.
The Ministry is also promoting sports tourism in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Plans include hosting national and international sporting events in Sisaket Province, such as Muay Thai competitions and the 52nd King's Cup football tournament. These initiatives aim to attract tourists, athletes, and sports fans both domestically and internationally, thereby increasing travel revenue and supporting local businesses.
Mr. Surasak stated, 'Tourism will be a key mechanism for revitalizing the border economy. We will leverage the unique characteristics of each area-including faith, culture, sports, and community lifestyles-to develop high-quality tourism products, generate sustainable income for the people, and build confidence among tourists to encourage more travel.'
He also mentioned the concept of future government restructuring to integrate tourism and cultural missions, which would benefit provinces with rich historical and cultural assets, such as Sisaket Province. This integration would ensure that conservation, tourism development, and the promotion of the creative economy proceed in the same direction, thereby enhancing the value of historical sites, learning resources, and cultural heritage to maximize benefits for the people and the country.