Bangkok, 14 October 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) strengthened the collaboration with CNN as a supporting partner of CNN Global Perspectives: In Bangkok, the inaugural Asia edition held on 14 October at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok. Staged alongside the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Annual Meetings, the event gave TAT access to an influential international audience as global leaders, investors and policymakers gathered in the Thai capital.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “This global convergence gave Thailand an important opportunity to place tourism within a wider national context, connecting our Visitor Economy with wellness, culture, business, investment, international exchange and quality of life. Through CNN’s global platform, TAT presented Thailand not only as a leading tourism destination, but as a Global Wellness Destination offering meaningful experiences for travellers increasingly focused on physical and mental well-being.”
CNN Global Perspectives is a live event series exploring the ideas, leadership, economies and cultures shaping global transformation. The inaugural Asia edition brought together leaders from government, finance, business and the creative industries, positioning Bangkok at the centre of international economic and policy discussions.
The programme opened with remarks by H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand, and featured Hyun Song Shin, Governor of the Bank of Korea; Tan Su Shan, Chief Executive Officer and Director of DBS Group; Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Piwat Group; Pandu Sjahrir, Chief Investment Officer of Danantara Indonesia; and Maggie Kang, Academy Award-winning creator and co-director of KPop Demon Hunters.
CNN news anchors and correspondents led discussions spanning technology, finance, geopolitics, healthcare, media, culture and other forces shaping global change. Its editorial coverage extended across CNN platforms worldwide.
Within these wider global conversations, TAT highlighted a tourism model focused on quality, broader economic contribution and more balanced distribution of benefits. TAT is working towards a 60:40 distribution between major and emerging destinations, supporting a Visitor Economy that brings more opportunities to communities and businesses across the country.
These priorities shaped a fireside chat between Ms. Thapanee and Anita Mandarita, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of UN Tourism. They discussed Thailand’s value-over-volume approach, the role of Thai-ness and well-being in shaping the visitor experience, and tourism’s potential to open wider pathways to business, investment, learning and deeper engagement.
Ms. Thapanee added, “Thailand’s next chapter in tourism is about creating value that reaches further to travellers, communities, businesses and the country as a whole. Our Visitor Economy direction looks beyond arrivals towards meaningful and distinctly Thai experiences and a wider distribution of opportunities. Tourism can become a gateway to a deeper relationship with Thailand, connecting people not only with our destinations, but also with our culture, ideas and wider opportunities. Beauty makes people admire a destination, but charm makes people fall in love with it. And when people fall in love with Thailand, they will always find a reason to return.”
TAT’s “Healing is the New Luxury” communication concept gives this direction a clear expression in the wellness market. TAT is positioning Thailand around the value of time, space, nature, reconnection and personal well-being. The country’s traditions of mindfulness and healing, combined with modern healthcare, preventive health and sophisticated wellness services, underpin Thailand’s proposition as a Global Wellness Destination — a place where visitors can find restorative experiences and personal connections that endure beyond the journey.
This vision is supported by TAT’s Amazing 5 Economy strategy, which brings together the Life, Sub-Culture, Night, Circular and Platform economies to create wider opportunities for tourism to generate value across Thailand. Within this framework, the Life Economy goes beyond medical and wellness services to embrace longevity and quality of life, helping people live longer, healthier and happier lives while creating new opportunities for Thailand’s tourism economy.
Thai-ness extends that proposition further. It is one of Thailand’s greatest strengths, rooted in our unique culture, traditions and way of life that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Thailand’s food, festivals, creative industries and hospitality can generate interest across wellness, learning, business and investment. From the warmth of a Thai smile to the traditional wai gesture expressing respect, these cultural qualities help turn fascination into connection, opening doors to wider economic opportunities for Thailand and its people.
TAT’s support of CNN Global Perspectives also demonstrated Bangkok and Thailand’s capacity to host major international gatherings, knowledge exchange and high-value business engagement. By placing Thailand at the intersection of tourism, business, investment and international dialogue, the collaboration helped broaden perceptions of the country from a place to visit to a destination for ideas, partnerships, investment and new opportunities.
