Pipat emphasizes that the Office of Sustainable Tourism Development (OSTD) is a key agency in enhancing tourism, boosting community confidence, and is expected to generate tourism revenue of 3.38 trillion baht this year.

          On October 16, 2019, Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, presided over the opening ceremony of the DASTA Forum 2019 titled "New Perspectives for Sustainable Thai Tourism." He stated that the OSTD, which recently joined the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in April, plays a crucial role as a primary agency in enhancing tourism efforts through its mission to develop community and tourism site potential. The tourism industry is significantly important to Thailand's economy and society.

          "This year, we anticipate tourism revenue to be around 3.38 trillion baht. Therefore, the tourism industry is a key strategy for the country's economic development. The government has set a target in the 20-year national strategy to generate tourism revenue to account for 22% of GDP by 2022 and increase it to 30% by 2037. However, despite continuous growth in tourism revenue, sustainability remains a challenge, with growth primarily driven by demand while supply factors are unstable," Mr. Pipat said.

          Nevertheless, he previously provided guidelines for agencies under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to ensure safety, cleanliness, fairness, and equitable income distribution to communities, reducing inequality (Sustainability).

          Mr. Taweepong Vichaidit, Director of OSTD, stated that to affirm the agency's operations and successes at the DASTA Forum 2019, an exhibition showcasing interesting operational results was organized. This includes community-based tourism development, which has united efforts to drive the CBT Thailand strategic plan, with over 40 model communities in development, sustainable tourism criteria under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and tourism cooperation projects with neighboring countries under the "Lao Cultural Quadrangle" initiative, as well as promoting income-generating activities in special areas.

          According to data from 2019, communities involved in development saw an increase in supplementary income of 20.14%, with 87.59% meeting the established quality of life criteria. This reflects the comprehensive development perspective of OSTD over the past 16 years, encompassing economic, social, cultural, and environmental aspects, along with participatory processes from all stakeholders, which will lead to sustainable tourism development in Thailand and true happiness for communities in special areas and future tourists.

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