Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – To innovate and upgrade the health and wellness tourism industry and solidify its advantages in health tourism development, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) successfully held the "Thailand Surf Therapy: A Real Experience and Trust Building Journey" event in Phang Nga Province from June 18th to 19th, 2026. This event laid a solid foundation for the official release of the Thai surf therapy model, experience system, and future development plan at the Thailand Health Excellence Conference to be held on June 30th.
This event was spearheaded by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in conjunction with Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus, La Vita Sana, Memories Surf House, and the South African international professional surf therapy organization Waves for Change. The event brought together 36 tourism industry partners, health and wellness industry practitioners, and representatives from mainstream media. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on "Integrating Scientific Surf Therapy Concepts into the Coastal Tourism System," exploring innovative paths for high-quality health and wellness tourism products, and contributing to the transformation and upgrading of Thailand's health industry towards quality, professionalism, and distinctive features.
Nat Krutasut, Deputy Director of Tourism Products and Business at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, stated that the Thai surf therapy model is the result of multi-party collaboration, knowledge sharing, and a scientific approach to wellness. This model deeply integrates internationally recognized surf therapy systems, Thailand's high-quality coastal ecological resources, local cultural characteristics, and standardized tourism services. It provides tourists with an immersive, high-quality wellness experience, precisely meeting the needs of contemporary tourists seeking lightweight healing and natural wellness travel. Simultaneously, it creates sustainable and diverse value for tourists, coastal communities, and tourism businesses.
According to reports, the new Thai surf therapy model deeply integrates trendy surfing lifestyles, coastal leisure activities, and systematic, scientific wellness knowledge, innovatively empowering Thailand's traditional coastal tourism industry. The project focuses on a close-to-nature, safe, and relaxing immersive experience, helping tourists relax, regulate emotions, and nourish their physical and mental health. It also revitalizes cultural and tourism resources, enriches product offerings, and broadens development avenues for Thai coastal tourism destinations, creating new employment and income opportunities for local tourism professionals.
The two-day experience was rich in content and professionally structured. The event officially kicked off on June 18th, with Lian Papier, a representative from the South African organization Waves for Change, delivering a special lecture on "Surf Therapy and Emotional Healing." Memories Surf House simultaneously explained the basic theory, practical skills, safety guidelines, and participation information for surf therapy. Participants then went to Memories Beach for an immersive surf therapy experience, gaining a direct understanding of the integration logic and implementation model of surfing with systematic wellness services.
On June 19th, the event continued with the theme of "Scientific Health and Emotional Healing." Guests again experienced professional surf therapy and participated in the "Breathing with the Ocean" wellness program at the Thai Sala at La Solaya Hotel. This innovative program combined water-based floating therapy with Tibetan singing bowl sound therapy, enriching the coastal wellness experience and constructing a multi-layered, immersive coastal wellness experience system.
It is understood that the Thai surf therapy model, relying on the Rise On Wave network empowered by Span Global, continues to iterate and upgrade, adapting the scientific Take 5 wellness method to the local context and accurately implementing it in Thai cultural and tourism scenarios. The project primarily targets high-pressure workplace managers, business owners, and tourists seeking emotional regulation and mental well-being. It offers three differentiated wellness programs: a 3-5 day "Wave Reset Plan," a 7-14 day "Ocean Balance Plan," and a 14-day or longer "Surfing and Mind Plan," comprehensively catering to the diverse wellness needs of different groups.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand will officially launch this new surf therapy model at the Thailand Health Excellence Conference on June 30, 2026. This project is also part of Thailand's core strategic plan, aiming to help Thailand become a leading wellness tourism destination in Asia and a benchmark for scientifically sound health tourism, continuously enhancing Thailand's international reputation and competitiveness in high-end wellness tourism.
