Meta has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and Digital Tips Academy to host the "WhatsApp Sessions for Business: Unlocking Tourism Business Opportunities with WhatsApp" event. The event brought together 200 SMEs from the tourism and service sectors to explore business growth opportunities and enhance the competitiveness of Thailand's tourism industry through business messaging.

Mr. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated, "Digital transformation is key to driving tangible and sustainable growth in Thailand's tourism economy. This collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Meta, and the TAT marks a significant step in empowering Thai SMEs—ranging from boutique hotels to health and wellness providers—to showcase Thailand's diverse 'Soft Power' to the world. Equipping Thai businesses with a globally recognized tool like WhatsApp allows the charm of Thai hospitality to reach international travelers directly, while fostering inclusive economic growth across all regions."

Mr. Kittipong Prapattong, Deputy Governor for Digitalization, Research, and Development at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said, "As Thailand welcomes millions of international tourists this year, creating a seamless experience throughout the customer journey is crucial. Today's travelers expect fast, personalized communication right at their fingertips. This partnership with Meta enables Thai tourism operators to adopt modern 'Conversational Commerce' models, helping SMEs maintain their competitiveness and build lasting relationships with visitors from around the globe." ...poised to elevate the overall tourist experience.”

Rafael Frankel, Meta’s Vice President of Public Policy for Asia Pacific, said, “People want to connect with businesses the same way they do with friends and family—through fast, convenient, and personal messaging. WhatsApp acts as a digital storefront where tourists can make inquiries, discuss services, and complete bookings. We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to help Thai tourism businesses leverage Meta’s global network to drive cross-border growth and unlock new economic opportunities for Thailand’s high-potential tourism industry.”

People want to connect with businesses in the same way they do with friends and family—through fast and personal messaging on their preferred platforms. With over 3 billion users worldwide, the WhatsApp Business app enables businesses of all sizes to reach customers on the channels they prefer, serving as a digital storefront where tourists can ask questions, explore services, and finalize bookings. This messaging-first approach reflects current Thai consumer behavior; studies show that 61.4% of Thai internet-using adults surveyed message businesses daily[1], while 74.5% identify messaging as their preferred channel for communicating with businesses[2].

Thailand’s tourism sector is entering a new phase of growth. From January 1 to September 5, 2026, Thailand welcomed a cumulative total of 21.28 million foreign tourists, generating 1,040,385 million baht in revenue. Further momentum is expected from upcoming major events—including Tomorrowland—with forecasts predicting the tourism sector's contribution to GDP will rise from 14.92% in 2025 to approximately 15.89% in 2026. To help Thai entrepreneurs capitalize on this growing demand, businesses are utilizing the WhatsApp Business app to communicate with key inbound tourist markets across Europe, South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. This tool enables efficient customer conversation management, drives bookings, and showcases Thailand’s "soft power" on the global stage.

Practical tools for genuine business growth: The event featured hands-on training tailored to Thailand’s diverse tourism ecosystem. Entrepreneurs from boutique hotels, tour companies, restaurants, transport services, wellness centers, and cultural experience providers learned to use various features of the WhatsApp Business app—a free service designed for small businesses—including:

Business Profiles: To establish a credible business identity. Catalogs: To showcase packages, menus, and services. Automated Messages: To ensure round-the-clock customer responsiveness. Click-to-WhatsApp Ads on Facebook and Instagram: To convert social media interest into direct conversations and confirmed bookings.

In addition to this event, Digital Tips Academy launched a Thai-language e-book titled... “Unlocking Opportunities for Thai Tourism and Export Businesses with WhatsApp” (Business messaging unlocked: opportunities for growth) aims to boost digital capabilities for entrepreneurs nationwide, serving as a comprehensive guide for practical implementation. The guide features real-world success stories from SMEs, cross-border communication strategies, and actionable workflows for managing international bookings.

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