BANGKOK — Thailand is ramping up efforts to cater to the growing Muslim tourist market by training tourism operators to provide Muslim-friendly services, aiming to strengthen the country’s position as a global destination.
Jaturon Phakdeewanich, Director-General of the Tourism Department, revealed that Muslim tourists represent a high-growth segment with significant impact on the global tourism economy.
According to the Tourism and Sports Economics Division under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Malaysian visitors have exceeded 3 million arrivals since the beginning of the year, ranking among the top three foreign tourist groups and reinforcing Thailand’s popularity as a Muslim travel destination.
Building Service Excellence
“Thailand has comprehensive readiness in terms of diverse attractions, service standards, and friendly hospitality,” Jaturon said. “Developing personnel capabilities to properly understand and accommodate Muslim tourists’ needs will be key to building confidence and enhancing Thai tourism industry competitiveness on the global stage.”
The training program will focus on helping tourism operators and staff gain knowledge and skills to provide services aligned with Muslim lifestyles and beliefs, while maintaining standards of safety, cleanliness, fairness, and sustainability.
Nationwide Training Initiative
The department will conduct four training sessions targeting at least 600 participants across Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Krabi, and Pattani provinces. The program emphasizes practical knowledge and implementable concepts to create meaningful learning outcomes.
Jaturon expressed confidence that the initiative will elevate service standards among tourism operators and personnel, enabling them to serve the Muslim tourist market with quality that creates positive impressions and enhances Thailand’s image while strengthening the tourism industry’s sustainable development.
_______