Tourism Sector
(Tourism)
Background and Principles
Tourism Sector: Given that the IMT-GT subregion is rich in cultural heritage and natural resources, the IMT-GT program focuses on developing connectivity between strategic areas to support cross-border tourism routes. This aims to enhance the sustainability, inclusivity, and competitiveness of the subregion. A key objective is to establish a Single Tourism Destination that supports long-term recovery and growth through increased connectivity, themed tourism routes, and sustainability. Tourism is one of the three lead sectors under the IMT-GT framework. The Working Group on Tourism (WGT) serves as the primary mechanism for driving tourism cooperation within the IMT-GT program, with the goal of positioning the subregion as a leading, sustainable, inclusive, and competitive regional tourism destination. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports (Department of Tourism) acts as the main coordinating agency for Thailand within this working group.
The Working Group on Tourism aims to support the tourism sector in reopening safely and achieving sustainable growth, developing and linking cross-border ecotourism routes, and promoting the region’s sustainability, inclusivity, and competitiveness as a premier tourism destination.
Thai Implementing Agencies for the Working Group on Tourism
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports (Department of Tourism)
- Ministry of Transport
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Royal Thai Police (Immigration Bureau)
- Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
- Other relevant agencies
Strategic Issues
Improving connectivity between the subregion’s strategic areas
to support the development of cross-border
tourism routes
Transforming the tourism sector from low-cost, mass tourism to a model with fewer tourists
but higher potential
Enhancing the sustainability, inclusivity, and competitiveness of the
subregion as a single destination
Promoting and marketing the subregion
as a single tourism destination
Facilitating the reopening of
safe tourism
Promoting domestic and
intra-regional tourism
Key Projects under the IB 2022-2026 Plan
Ongoing Projects
- The 2nd Tourism Forum Project
- ASEAN Self-drive Tourism – Initiating Action-based Learning Programme for Stakeholders Project
- IMT-GT Pilot Tourism Route Design Project
- Development and Promotion of IMT-GT Geoparks Project
- IMT-GT Yacht Tourism Promotion Project
- Wellness Tourism Connectivity Route in IMT-GT Subregion Project
- Songkhla Gastronomy Tourism Project (UNESCO Creative City Network for Gastronomy)
- Rehabilitation of the Terrain House Community as a Cultural Tourist Attraction Project
- Malaysia-Thailand Self-Drive Tourism Project (Phase 1)
- Malaysia-Thailand Self-Drive Tourism Project (Phase 2)
- Enhancing Rail Tourism via Train to become the Southern Region’s Rail Tourism Hub Project
- Development of Tourism Route with Ecological and Cultural Heritage of the Songkhla Lake Basin linked to World Heritage Sites Project
Completed Projects
- ASEAN Ecotourism Business Planning Workshop Project
- Self-Drive Tourism and ASEAN Connect Guideline Project
- Seminar of Muslim Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) Project
- Training of Trainers: Elevating Tourism Community to Digital Economy Project
- Tourism Student Exchange Programme on Community-based Tourism Project
- Campaign to raise awareness of IMT-GT tourism in ITB ASIA 2023 Project
- IMT-GT Calendar of Tourism Events Project
- IMT-GT Themed Trail Project
- IMT-GT International Peranakan Festival Project
- Sports Tourism Promotion Project (Satun – Langkawi Fishing the Andaman)
- ASEAN – India Cruise Dialogue Project
- Cruise Tourism Route Development in IMT-GT Subregion Project
- International Summer Course: North Sumatra Cultural Diversity Project
- International Community Service Project
- Satun-Langkawi Fishing the Andaman 2025 Project
Recent Progress
Projects and activities are being implemented under the IMT-GT Visit Year 2023-2025 campaign, such as promoting IMT-GT as a single destination, cruise and cross-border self-drive tourism, and enhancing cooperation with local stakeholders and other working groups. This also includes promoting Muslim-friendly tourism and developing cross-sectoral cooperation between the tourism and transport working groups to support inclusivity and sustainability.
