Thailand’s Tourism Authority Keen on PM Candidate Pita Limjaroenrat as New Ambassador

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Thailand’s Tourism Authority Eyes Pita Limjaroenrat as New Tourism Ambassador
Photo Credit: Pita Limjaroenrat's Instagram account

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is planning to approach Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward party who won the May 2023 elections, to become the tourism ambassador for the “Land of the Smiles” to attract young foreign tourists.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Thursday that if Pita is unable to become the next PM of Thailand, he would be a good fit for the position of Thai tourism ambassador thanks to his charm and popularity among young people.

Yuthasak added that he believes Pita is also capable of attracting foreign tourists, especially young tourists from Southeast Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, and China which are important markets for TAT.

“It would be advantageous if Pita agreed to serve as Thailand’s ambassador for the tourism industry since he possesses the qualities of a key opinion leader,” said Yuthasak.

According to The Nation, the Move Forward party’s deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul recently announced the party’s intention of speaking with tourism-related agencies. She did not specify, however, whether Pita was considering becoming the tourism ambassador for Thailand.

However, after news of TAT’s desire for Pita to be the new Thailand tourism ambassador spread, Pita posted on Instagram about tourist attractions in Thailand he believes tourists should visit, leading to further speculation that Pita might be interested in the position.

It remains to be seen whether Pita will accept the offer to become Thailand’s tourism ambassador. However, the TAT’s interest in him is a sign that they believe the Harvard-educated businessman and politician could be a valuable asset in promoting Thailand as an attractive tourist destination globally.

Thailand has welcomed 9.47 million foreign tourists so far this year, generating about THB 391 billion (11 billion USD) in revenue, according to government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul.