Thai tourism agency boosts cooperation with RoK counterparts
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed agreements with tourism operators from the Republic of Korea (RoK) to expand tourism cooperation between the two nations.
Visitors to a destination in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The TourismAuthority of Thailand (TAT) has signed agreements with tourism operators from theRepublic of Korea (RoK) to expand tourism cooperation between the two nations.
The agreements were inked during TAT GovernorYuthasak Supasorn’s recent visit to Seoul on December 19.
The authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA) to exchangeinformation, encourage visitor traffic, establish new emerging market sectorsand provide assistance for both parties.
The TAT and SOOBAK, meanwhile, signed an MoU to promote Thailand’s tourismproducts and services through the use of NFTs.
Various incentives and deals will be offered in line with the kingdom’s goal ofutilising new technology and establishing a ‘tourism ecosystem’ for a moresustainable industry.
The TAT also inked a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Korean Air to expandthe airline’s flight services to Thailand, including launching new routes tomore destinations in the country.
Additionally, the agreement aims to provide more options for American travelersvisiting Thailand by using Korean Air’s route network.
The TAT Governor said these agreements, which comeahead of the Visit Thailand-Korea Year 2023-2024, will benefit Thai tourism andhelp market the kingdom as an all-year-round destination for Korean travelers.
It predicts that the number of Korean tourists visiting Thailand would reach atleast 1.1 million in 2023./.
Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), the largest hospital operator in Asia outside of China, has reported that Thailand’s medical tourism industry is seeing a revitalization and will continue to grow.
Thailand held celebrations to welcome foreign visitors at seven airports and two immigration checkpoints on December 10 as it recorded 10 million foreign tourist arrivals for 2022.
Thailand’s tour operators are expecting outbound tourism from China will restart in late January 2023 during the Lunar New Year festival when China gradually lifts its COVID-19 restrictions.
A survey by BBC News shows that Thailand is the most popular destination in Southeast Asia for tourists from North America and Europe when they plan a trip.
The subsidy scheme for domestic tourists might be reduced to 500,000 rooms from 1.5 million after the Thai cabinet this week cut the proposed budget of 8.7 billion baht (nearly 250 million USD) by half, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Visitors to a destination in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
