BANGKOK, 5 September 2023: Thapanee Kiatphaiboon officially began her role as the new governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand on 1 September 2023, following her successful appointment to the post last May.
Yesterday, she began her first official working week as the TAT governor, just days before the new Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, begins her official duties at the end of this week. It’s the first time in the history of Thai tourism that two women have been appointed to the country’s top posts in key roles crafting tourism policies and projects.
Having been with the TAT in 1999 after earning a master’s degree in science from the University of Surrey in the UK, Thapanee has held various positions within the organisation, including deputy governor for tourism products and business and, most recently, deputy governor for domestic marketing.
Most recently, she was the TAT’s deputy governor for domestic marketing and responsible for initiating various marketing projects such as ‘workation in Thailand’, religious tourism routes, and solo travel. They were important elements in driving domestic trips past the 150 million milestone and generating THB641.5 billion.
She is a popular figure who has led social media campaigns and demonstrated the power of communicating with a global audience through digital technology.
Also, as deputy governor for tourism products and business, Thapanee was recognised for her leadership in initiating the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certification programme that enabled hotels and services to meet specific health and safety standards. The programme became a mandatory requirement for hotels seeking to register as quarantine facilities during strict COVID-19 control measures and also received global recognition in alignment with the WTTC SafeTravels protocols.
