Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT, under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports), together with public and private sector partners, officially announced the nationwide rollout of the “Trust Thailand” certification program. This initiative aims to enhance international trust in Thai tourism, improve Thailand's international reputation for safety and quality, and clearly convey to the world that Thailand is fully prepared to welcome more international tourists.
Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Atakorn Siriratayakorn, presided over the project launch. He stated, “The ‘Trust Thailand’ certification mark is a tangible guarantee of the safety and reliability of tourism services, encouraging tourists – especially those from China – to return to Thailand with renewed trust. This initiative aligns with government policy, and we will continue to strengthen international tourists' confidence in Thai tourism by raising safety standards, strengthening inter-departmental coordination, ensuring information accuracy, and improving tourist services.” The launch ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Yang Xiaolong, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, and Ms. Thapane Giatappur, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department, the Department of Public Health, and other government departments, as well as industry organizations such as the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Hotel Association, Chambers of Commerce, Retailers Association, Ratchaprasong Plaza Trade Association, and Amusement Park Association, and companies including Trip.com, Agoda Services, and Grab Thailand, attended the event to support the project's launch. At the ceremony, several representatives spoke, emphasizing the crucial importance of raising tourism safety standards for the development of Thailand's tourism industry.
In his speech, Mr. Yang Xiaolong pointed out that over the 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, the friendship between the two countries has steadily deepened, with fruitful cooperation and exchanges in the tourism sector. He stressed that safety is a key factor influencing tourists' travel decisions, and the launch of the "Trust Thailand" project is a highly commendable milestone. "This project symbolizes the spirit of cooperation, responsibility, and sincere commitment between China and Thailand in the tourism sector, and will ultimately bring Chinese tourists a safer and higher-quality Thai tourism experience." As an important component of the TAT's long-term strategy, the "Trust Thailand" certification aims to comprehensively improve Thailand's tourism safety standards from both a systemic and symbolic perspective. Participating tourism operators must undergo assessment in four key areas: 1) general safety measures such as CCTV monitoring, emergency response systems, and disaster preparedness; 2) secure and transparent payment systems supporting well-known platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay; 3) multilingual communication capabilities and professional tourist services; and 4) safe and convenient transportation route planning, as well as clear signage and information point placement. The certification is valid for two years.
It is estimated that over 5,000 tourism-related operators nationwide will register for the assessment, covering multiple categories including hotels and accommodations, restaurants, attractions, shopping malls, and leisure venues. Certified companies will receive special promotional support through the Ctrip platform and the Tourism Authority of Thailand's domestic and international promotional channels.
Ms. Thapane Giatappur stated, “The ‘Trust Thailand’ certification is both a benchmark for tourism service quality and a shared mission of the public and private sectors – we aim to reaffirm Thailand’s status as a safe, high-quality, and reliable tourist destination through this project. It continues Thailand’s tradition of hospitality – the Thai smile, genuine friendship, and unique cultural charm – while also demonstrating Thailand’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every traveler has a safe, worry-free, trustworthy, high-quality, and caring travel experience in Thailand.” This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. It is predicted that in the first 10 months of 2025, Chinese tourists will account for approximately 15% of Thailand’s total inbound tourists, representing about 3.7 million out of 26.7 million international tourists. The “Trust Thailand” program will play a crucial role in helping Thailand achieve its goal of reaching at least 2.8 trillion baht in tourism revenue by 2026.
