Tourism Minister Denies Rumors of Permanent Secretary Replacement

On August 25, 2026, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, addressed media reports suggesting an imminent change in the position of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary. Speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting, the Minister explicitly denied these rumors, clarifying that any upcoming personnel transfers within the ministry are strictly limited to filling vacancies created by officials reaching retirement age.

During his statement, Minister Surasak expressed confidence in the current Permanent Secretary, Natthariya Thaweewong. He described her as a seasoned official with a strong background from the Prime Minister's Office, noting that she possesses a deep understanding of the administrative requirements of the role.

For travelers and residents in Thailand, this clarification provides stability regarding the leadership of the ministry responsible for tourism policy and sports development. While the Minister has addressed the immediate speculation, the broader scope of upcoming personnel adjustments to replace retiring staff remains a matter of internal administrative process. Observers will continue to monitor official announcements to see how these routine staffing changes might influence future tourism initiatives or policy implementation. As of now, the leadership structure within the Ministry of Tourism and Sports remains unchanged.