Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaiboon has officially assumed her role as the newly appointed Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), marking a significant moment in the country’s tourism landscape.
With a tenure at TAT that spans back to 1999, Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaiboon brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Her journey began after completing her master’s degree in science at the University of Surrey in the UK. Throughout her tenure at TAT, she has held various key positions, including Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, and most recently, Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing.
During her time as Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing, Ms. Thapanee spearheaded several tourism initiatives aimed at bolstering Thailand’s economy. Notable among these initiatives were “workation” opportunities within the country, faith and religious tourism routes, and the promotion of solo travel. These efforts proved highly successful, stimulating a remarkable 151.45 million domestic trips in 2022, accounting for approximately 88% of the record year in 2019. This surge in domestic tourism generated an impressive 641.5 billion Baht.
Ms. Thapanee’s contributions extended further in her role as Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business. She earned recognition for her leadership in launching the “Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA)” certification program, which set rigorous health and safety standards for hotels and service providers. This initiative became a mandatory requirement for hotels seeking to register as quarantine facilities during the stringent COVID-19 control measures. Moreover, it garnered global acclaim, aligning with the WTTC SafeTravels protocols.
Under her guidance, Ms. Thapanee also pioneered the Special Tourist Visa (STV) scheme, a pivotal step in Thailand’s reopening strategy. This led to the introduction of various entry schemes such as Villa Quarantine, Yacht Quarantine, and Golf Quarantine, as well as the internationally recognized Phuket Sandbox model, heralded as a blueprint for the country’s reopening.
Recognized for her adeptness with social media and technology, Ms. Thapanee has harnessed these tools to promote and advance Thailand’s tourism industry. Notable accomplishments in this realm include the collaboration on the Google Street View project with Google Thailand, and the management of the ‘Amazing Thailand’ social media platforms.
Ms. Thapanee has consistently championed the development of special interest tourism products, including health and wellness tourism, yacht and cruise tourism, and community-based tourism. She also played a pivotal role in the “King’s Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism” project, which earned the prestigious PATA Grand Awards in 2018 in the Education and Training category.
In her earlier years with TAT, Ms. Thapanee gained widespread recognition for her contributions to the promotion and development of intra-regional travel within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Her impressive track record and extensive experience position her well for her new role as Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, where she is expected to further shape the future of Thai tourism.
Author: Editorial Staff
Provider of news and content to Heaven is Hua Hin
