Restaurant Club views Tourism-Culture Ministry merger

Matichon•Economy•2d ago

Reader Briefing

Sorathep Rojpajananrat of the Restaurant Business Club expresses concerns over the Cabinet's decision to merge tourism and culture ministries.

•The Cabinet approved restructuring to separate tourism from sports and merge it with the Ministry of Culture.
•Sorathep Rojpajananrat identifies four benefits and four drawbacks to the merger.
•Tourism sector concerns include a potential reduction in role and decreased marketing budgets.
•The Steve AUG Market Fast event will be held every Saturday and Sunday throughout August 2026.

•The Cabinet approved restructuring to separate tourism from sports and merge it with the Ministry of Culture.
•Sorathep Rojpajananrat stated that the merger could systematically link culture with tourism, reduce budget redundancy, and strengthen Thailand's brand.
•Sorathep Rojpajananrat warned that different working philosophies—tourism focusing on competition/revenue and culture focusing on conservation—could cause issues.
•Sorathep Rojpajananrat expressed concern that the tourism sector might become a secondary mission under the Ministry of Culture.
•Sorathep Rojpajananrat noted that the relationship between the private sector—including hotels, restaurants, airlines, and tour businesses—and the host agency might become less flexible.
•Steve Cafe and Cuisine Rama 6 branch is hosting the Steve AUG Market Fast every Saturday and Sunday in August 2026.
•The Steve AUG Market Fast aims to provide free selling space for entrepreneurs in the Thai Chuay Thai Plus project to increase visibility and sales.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Sorathep Rojpajananrat

"We fear that some decisions may be delayed, which would affect operations; this is what we fear. Marketing budgets might also be allocated less."

เราเกรงว่าการตัดสินใจบางอย่างอาจจะล่าช้า แล้วมีผลต่อการดำเนินงานนี่คือสิ่งที่เรากลัว งบประมาณด้านการตลาดก็อาจจะถูกจัดสรรให้น้อยลง

Sorathep Rojpajananrat(สรเทพ โรจน์พจนารัช)

President of the Restaurant Business Club and honorary advisor to the Thai Hostel and Small Accommodation Association.

Restaurant Business Club(ชมรมผู้ประกอบธุรกิจร้านอาหาร)

An organization whose president expressed views on the merger of tourism and culture ministries.

Thai Hostel and Small Accommodation Association(สมาคมโฮสเทลและที่พักขนาดเล็กประเทศไทย)

An association where Sorathep Rojpajananrat serves as an honorary advisor.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The body that approved the restructuring of the tourism and culture ministries.

Ministry of Tourism(กระทรวงการท่องเที่ยว)ℹ️

A ministry being separated from sports and merged with the Ministry of Culture.

Ministry of Culture(กระทรวงวัฒนธรรม)ℹ️

A ministry being merged with the tourism sector.

Steve Cafe and Cuisine Rama 6 Branch(สตีฟ คาเฟ่ แอนด์ ครุยซีน สาขาพระราม 6)

The location hosting the Steve AUG Market Fast event.

Thai Chuay Thai Plus(ไทยช่วยไทยพลัส)

A project whose participating entrepreneurs are given space to sell goods at Steve AUG Market Fast.