Weerasak Drives Visitor Economy Sandbox in 3 Provinces

Matichon•Economy•14h ago

Reader Briefing

The Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy is implementing a Sandbox trial in three Thai provinces to shift from traditional tourism to a broader visitor-based economic framework.

•Weerasak Kovasurat revealed the outcomes of the 3/2026 meeting of the Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy held on August 25.
•The Visitor Economy Sandbox will be trialed in Bangkok, Krabi, and Chiang Rai.
•The initiative aims to increase value per visitor, increase local circulation of value, and improve community quality of life.
•The strategy shifts focus from attracting more tourists to increasing national competitiveness to make Thailand a preferred destination for diverse reasons.

Overview

•On August 25, the Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy held its 3/2026 meeting at the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) meeting room.
•The Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy discussed driving Creative Economy and Visitor Economy by linking Data, Knowledge, Workforce, and Policy.
•The Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy proposed the Visitor Economy Sandbox in Bangkok, Krabi, and Chiang Rai using results from the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Fund (SRI Fund) as Living Labs.
•Weerasak Kovasurat stated that Visitor Economy expands the development framework to include all traveler groups, including MICE, medical, education, long-stay, sports, and business travelers.
•Weerasak Kovasurat explained that the Visitor Economy framework reduces reliance on any single market and stimulates investment and innovation in regions and communities.
•Weerasak Kovasurat defined the shift from "Demand Thinking" to "National Competitiveness Thinking," where Thailand competes via healthcare, universities, and infrastructure rather than just beaches or food.
•Weerasak Kovasurat asserted that improving these systems benefits Thai people first, while visitors act as both beneficiaries and value creators for the economy.

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Key Quotes

Weerasak Kovasurat

"Visitor Economy is therefore a framework that helps gather the country's existing potential to create integration and drive forward under a single vision."

Visitor Economy จึงเป็นกรอบที่ช่วยรวบรวมศักยภาพที่มีอยู่แล้วของประเทศ ให้เกิดการบูรณาการและขับเคลื่อนร่วมกันภายใต้วิสัยทัศน์เดียว

Key Entities

Person

Weerasak Kovasurat(วีระศักดิ์ โควสุรัตน์)

Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy.

Suphajee Suthumpun(ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธ์)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister.

Supawadee Phothiyarat(สุภาวดี โพธิยะราช)

Secretary of the Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy.

Organization

Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy(คณะทำงานด้านพัฒนาเศรษฐกิจสร้างสรรค์และ Visitor Economy)

A working group focused on driving the creative economy and visitor economy frameworks in Thailand.

Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA)(สมาคมไทยธุรกิจการท่องเที่ยว (ATTA))

The organization whose meeting room hosted the Working Group's meeting.

Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Fund (SRI Fund)(กองทุนส่งเสริมวิทยาศาสตร์ วิจัยและนวัตกรรม (ววน.))

A fund whose work is used to develop the Living Lab areas for the Visitor Economy Sandbox.

Place

Bangkok(กรุงเทพฯ)ℹ️

One of the three trial areas for the Visitor Economy Sandbox.

Krabi(กระบี่)ℹ️

One of the three trial areas for the Visitor Economy Sandbox.

Chiang Rai(เชียงราย)ℹ️

One of the three trial areas for the Visitor Economy Sandbox.

Policy

Visitor Economy Sandbox

A trial project in three provinces aimed at increasing visitor value and community quality of life.