ข่าวเด่น

On August 13, 2025, Walailak University, led by Associate Professor Dr. Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp, Vice President and Head of the Social Listening Research Project for Foresight Mapping of Thailand’s Tourism Market (2024–2027), joined forces with leading national tourism organizations to host a roundtable discussion on “Tourism Transformation 2027: Navigating Risks – Driving Resilience.” The event took place at the MHESI Fair 2025 in meeting room MR207 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok.

The forum aimed to bring together perspectives from multiple sectors to shape future scenarios and formulate risk management strategies that will strengthen and enhance the resilience of Thailand’s tourism industry in the long run. The session featured distinguished experts who shared valuable insights, including Asst. Prof. Supawadee Photiyarach, Senior Expert at Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), who delivered a keynote address on advancing the tourism industry through research, emphasizing the importance of knowledge-driven sustainable development. Dr. Adith Chairattananon, Secretary-General of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and a key figure in developing Thailand’s tourism risk management system, also shared in-depth perspectives and strategies for addressing the challenges currently facing the tourism industry.

The discussion further gained momentum through the participation of key agencies directly involved in tourism risk management in Thailand, such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the National Institute for Emergency Medicine, among others. Their involvement highlighted a shared commitment to elevating Thailand’s tourism standards and safety measures to international levels.



Associate Professor Dr. Siwarit explained that the research project is funded by the National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF), TSRI and the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC). He emphasized that this forum marks an important step in fostering collaboration across sectors to prepare the Thai tourism industry for sustainable growth. By combining insights from social listening research with the perspectives of industry stakeholders, the project aims to develop a clear foresight map and lay the foundation for effective risk management strategies that align with the evolving demands of the global market.

“The conclusions drawn from this forum will be compiled into a white paper to be submitted to the government, with the proposal to establish a National Tourism Risk Management Center. This initiative will enhance safety standards and reinforce global confidence in Thai tourism,” said Associate Professor Dr. Siwarit.