Thirty-Six Years of the Tourism
Authority of Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is known among the people as a government organization that supplies information and dato on tourist areas to the public, publicizes Thailand so as to encourage Thai and international tourists to travel in Thailand, conducts studies to set development plans for tourist areas, and to co-operate with and support the production and development of personnel in the field of tourism.

Throughout the thirty-six years since the founding of the Tourism Organization of Thailand up until now, the TAT has been determined to work incessantly for the development and progress of tourism.

History of the Thai Tourism Industry
Promotion of Thai tourism originated from Phra Chao Boromwongthoe Krompra Kampaengpetchakrayothin, when holding the position of Commander of the State Railway. He was so interested in tourism that he sent articles on Thailand to be published in the U.S.

In 1924, the Department of Public Relations was established in the State Railway to serve and facilitate tourists who visited Thailand, and publicize Thailand among foreigners. The first office was located at the foot of Nopawong Bridge. It was later moved to Hualumpong Railway Station.

When Phra Chao Boromwongthoe Krompra Kampaengpetchakrayothin was transferred to the position of Minister of Commerce and Communications, tourism promotion was then under the Ministry of Commerce and Communications, yet with co-operation from the State Railway. The office was in front of the Central Post Office, New Road, being responsible for tourism promotion, organizing training for tour guides and others. All the work was carried on without financial support from the government.

In 1936, tourism promotion was officially launched when the Ministry of Commerce and Communications submitted a project to the Cabinet to maintain the tourism industry in Thailand. Three points of Work plans and objectives of the tourism industry were set; namely, inviting tourist to visit Thailand, serving and taking care of them, and maintaining tourist areas and accommodations. A proposal to set up a travel association, together with a draft of the association's regulations, was presented to the Cabinet for consideration. The Cabinet accepted only the principle of maintaining the tourism industry, and assigned this duty to the Ministry of Commerce and Communications, which appointed the Division of Commerce and Tourism Promotion in the Department of Commerce to take care of this assignment.

In 1949, the Cabinet appointed the Department of Public Relations to promote tourism and take care of rental house and hotels. The Department would be primarily concerned with facilities offered to foreign tourist who would visit the "Exhibition of Museums of Far Eastern Merchandises," to be on display in December, 1950. Afterwards; the Department was assigned to set all programs for tourism promotion. It, therefore, made an agreement with the Ministry of Commerce and Communications to have the work in tourism promotion transferred to the Department of Public Relations, Office of the Prime Minister, and this section was referred to as Tourism Promotion Office.

In 1950, when tourism promotion received more attention, the Department of Public Affairs upgraded the Tourism Promotion Office to the status of a division. By virtue of a royal decree stipulating the setting up of official regulations in the Department of Public Relations in the Office of the Prime Minister, 2493 B.E., Tourism Office was founded.

Establishment of the Tourism Organization of Thailand
In 1958, while recuperating from his illness at Walter Reed Hospital in the U.S., Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat paid particular attention to tourism. Realizing economic gains from the tourism industry, which was booming in Europe and the U.S., he thought seriously about promotion of the Thai tourism industry. This was due the fact that Thailand had all the resources ready to be developed for the promotion of tourism. Moreover, the Thai way of life, art, culture and customs, as well as Thai hospitality would attract visitors to Thailand.

In 1959, under the premiership of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, a royal decree stipulating division of work units in the Department of Public Relations, 2502 B.E., was announced. The Office of Tourism was eliminated and the Tourism Organization of Thailand (TOT) was established as a permanently independent unit by virtue of the royal decree stipulating the establishment of the Tourism Organization, 2502 B.E.

Mr.Thanat Khoman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was Chairman of the Committee on Tourism Promotion.

In 1960, the Committee's meeting, by. approval of the Cabinet, appointed Col. (his rank at that time) Chalermchai Charuvastr as Director of the TOT on January 15, 1960.

At the beginning, the TOT's office was located on the premise of the Department of Public Relations. Afterwards, the work of the TOT covered a wide range of responsibilities, including contact with foreigners. The head office was thus moved to Si Ayutthaya Road on February 26, 1960 and the opening ceremony of the new office was presided over by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, the Prime Minister, on March 18, 1960.

In 1962, the work of the TOT extensively expanded, causing another office in Building II, Rajadamnoen Klang Avenue, to be opened on April 24, 1962.

In 1963, by virtue of the second royal decree stipulating the founding of the Tourist Organization of Thailand, B.E. 2506, an emblem of the TOT was created, depicting an image of the prang of the Temple of Dawn being flown over by an aero plane and a Royal Barge, "Supannahong," at the lower part of the emblem-all of which were placed in a circle. The top edge of the circle was inscribed with the initials TOT, and the lower edge was imprinted with "Tourist Organization. Thailand". The phrase "of Thailand" was added to the name of the Tourist Organization.

In 1967, part of the office on Si Ayutthaya Road was moved to the old Sor Por Or Building by Rajadamboen Boxing stadium on Rajadamnoem Nok Avenue.

In 1976, Col. Somchai Hiranyakit became Director of the TOT, succeeding Lt. General Chalermchai Charuvastr on August 6, 1976.

The TOT and the tourism business of the private sector requested co-operation from the Department of the Royal Thai Police to set measure to ensure safety and security to international tourists in particular. The Department of the Royal Thai Police thus set a pilot project, "The Facilitaton and Security Center" in the Division of Crime Suppression, with approximately 60 personnel. The center received complaints and patrolled and inspected concentrated tourist areas popular among tourists in Bangkok to ensure their security. At the beginning of its operation, donations of motorcars, motorcycles and communication equipment were made to the center by the private sector.

In 1977, most of the work units in Building II on Rajadamnoen Klang Avenue were moved to the old Sor. Por. Or Building on Rajadamnoen Nok Avenue.

According the royal decree stipulating the founding of the TOT, B.E. 2502, the TOT was a state enterprise, holding the position of a juristic person. It was empowered to decide, order and operate within the organization only. It did not have legal power to control the operation of those in the tourism industry. Therefore, to enable a government unit responsible for tourism to have more extensive power to promote and carry out work in tourism, a draft of Tourism in Thailand Act and a draft of Organization of Business Related to the Tourism Industry were submitted to the Cabinet for reconsideration of the scope of the TOT's power.

In 1979, during its forty-first meeting, on Friday, of April 20, 1979, the National Legislative Assembly, in its capacity as the Parliament, considered the two drafts and decided to adopt only the draft of Tourism in Thailand Act, B.E. 2522, as law. An announcement was published in the Special Issue of the Government Gazette, Vol. 96, Section 72, dated May 4, 1979, to upgrade the TOT to the position of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the objectives of which are as follows.

1. To promote tourism and the tourism industry, including professions of the people in this industry.

2. To publicize Thailand in terms of its beautiful nature, ancient places and objects, history, arts and culture, sports, development of technology and other activities that encourage traveling.

3. To offer facilities and safety to tourists

4. To promote understanding and friendship among people and nations through tourism.

5. To initiate tourism development and to improve infrastructure and facilities for tourists.

In 1982, on March 19, 1982, the Cabinet approved the founding of a Tourist Police Force, holding the position of Bureau 8 under the Division of Crime Suppression, Central Investigation Headquarters, the Royal Thai Police Department, to ensure safety to Thai and foreign tourists, to reduce and sole crimes caused by damage done to tourists or their belongings.

In 1986, on October 1, 1986, Mr.Dharmnoon Prachuabmoh became Governor of the TAT to succeed Col. Somchai Hiranyakit.

In 1991, on November 26, 1991, the Cabinet approved the promotion of Bureau 8, the Crime Suppression Division, to the position of the Tourist Police Division.

In 1992, rapid expansion of the tourist business and an increase in the number of tour guides caused numerous problems, for example, problems related to tourists' safety and tourists' being swindled. Government units responsible for tourism proposed the enactment of Tourism Business and Tour Guides, B.E. 2535. This proposal was approved by the National Legislative Assembly and the law has come into force since May 18, 1992. This law aims at protecting tourists, reorganizing rules and regulations concerning the tourism business and tour guides, resulting in the establishment of the Registrar for Tour Agents and Tour Guides to promote and inspect tourist business and those in this profession to ensure proper standards and regulations.

As the office on Rajadamnoen Avenue has undergone renovation and thus become crowded, some work units of the TAT have been temporarily moved to the old office of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, located at No. 372 Bumrungmuang Road, Kwaeng Baanbart, Khet Pomprabsatroopai. Some remain at the Rajadamnoen office.

In 1994, Mr.Seree Wangpaichitr has became Governor of the TAT to succeed Mr.Thamnoon Prachuabmoh since July 5, 1994.