Thailand’s Sports Minister Aims to Expand Esports Nationwide

On August 15, 2026, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, attended the opening of the 'ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 @ AYUTTHAYA' at the Ayutthaya City Park shopping center. During the event, the Minister expressed his ambition to partner with the Thailand Esports Federation (TESF) to organize a series of esports competitions across various provinces. The goal of this initiative is to foster the development of local players and elevate their competitive skills.

The current Ayutthaya tournament serves as an international platform, featuring Thai national representatives competing against players from Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Participants are competing in 'Street Fighter 6' and 'eFootball Mobile' for a total prize pool of 500,000 baht.

For residents and visitors, this initiative signals a growing government commitment to the digital sports sector, which may lead to more frequent high-profile gaming events in diverse regions of Thailand. Such events can influence local tourism and provide entertainment options for those interested in the gaming scene. While the Minister has stated his intent to expand these tournaments, specific details regarding the schedule, locations, or the long-term funding structure for future regional events remain to be confirmed by the Ministry and the TESF.