Weerasak pushes Visitor Economy Sandbox in 3 provinces

MGR Online•Economy•17h ago

Reader Briefing

Weerasak Kowsurat leads the 3rd meeting of the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy working group to implement a Visitor Economy Sandbox in three provinces.

•Weerasak Kowsurat chaired the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy working group meeting on August 25, 2026.
•The working group proposed a Visitor Economy Sandbox trial in Bangkok, Krabi, and Chiang Rai.
•The framework shifts the focus from traditional tourism to a broader 'Visitor Economy' encompassing MICE, medical, education, and business travel.

Overview

•On August 25, 2026, Weerasak Kowsurat chaired the 3rd/2026 meeting of the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy working group at the Thai Travel Agents Association (ATTA) meeting room.
•Weerasak Kowsurat and the working group discussed driving the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy by linking Data, Knowledge, Workforce, and Policy.
•The working group proposed a Visitor Economy Sandbox in Bangkok, Krabi, and Chiang Rai using results from the Science Research and Innovation Promotion Fund (SRI) as Living Labs.
•The Visitor Economy Sandbox aims to increase value per visitor, increase circulating value in the areas, and upgrade community quality of life and green growth.
•Weerasak Kowsurat stated that the term 'Visitor' expands the national development framework beyond tourism to include MICE, medical and wellness, education, long-term stays, sports, and business travel.
•Weerasak Kowsurat explained that Visitor Economy shifts the perspective from 'Demand Thinking' (attracting more tourists) to 'National Competitiveness Thinking'.
•Weerasak Kowsurat noted that this approach reduces reliance on any single market and stimulates investment and innovation in regions and communities.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Key Quotes

Weerasak Kowsurat

"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 Kowsurat(วีระศักดิ์ โควสุรัตน์)ℹ️

Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister (Supajee Suthampun) and Chairman of the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy working group.

Supajee Suthampun(ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์)

Deputy Prime Minister.

Supawadee Phothiyarat(สุภาวดี โพธิยะราช)

Secretary of the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy working group.

Organization

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

The organization whose meeting room hosted the working group meeting.

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

The working group tasked with driving the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy framework.

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

The fund whose work is being used to develop the Living Lab for the Visitor Economy Sandbox.

Place

Bangkok(กรุงเทพฯ)ℹ️

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

Krabi(กระบี่)ℹ️

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

Chiang Rai(เชียงราย)ℹ️

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

Policy

Visitor Economy Sandbox

A trial initiative to increase value per visitor and upgrade community quality of life in specific areas.

Visitor Economy

A national development framework that views all travelers as valuable visitors regardless of their purpose of travel.