Bangkok: Sabida welcomes the Prime Minister's initiative to integrate culture and tourism to cultivate Thailand's cultural capital, aiming for tangible results within six months.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Sabida Thaiseth, Minister of Culture, revealed the idea of merging the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism. This concept, a vision of the Prime Minister, hopes to leverage the power of tourism to develop Thailand's cultural capital and generate national income.

Ms. Sabida stated that the matter has been discussed, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision that Thailand possesses abundant cultural assets, which have not yet been fully utilized to create value. A key approach is to use the tourism sector as a tool to connect and disseminate Thai culture to the international community. This has led to the idea of merging the two ministries to ensure coordinated efforts and create greater economic value.

Regarding the timeframe for implementation, Ms. Sabida mentioned that initial discussions have been held with the Prime Minister, aiming to see progress within six months. However, the details of the various steps and processes, including their complexity, still need to be considered.

It was emphasized that the key issue is not just about restructuring the ministry. The main goal is to formulate a national strategy using tourism as a key mechanism for generating income from cultural exports.

On political matters, following rumors about ministerial positions in the new government, particularly the role of the Bhumjaithai Party, Ms. Sabida stated that she has not yet received official notification about whether she will continue as Minister of Culture, learning of it only through news reports.