Thailand boosts traditional medicine to attract wellness tourism

Thailand‘s Public Health Ministry is elevating its endeavours to showcase traditional wellness and medicine as a tourist attraction, in a bid to boost the nation’s revenue.

As voiced by Deputy Health Minister Santi Promphat yesterday, the country is renowned for its superior traditional medical knowledge and herbal plant utilisation.

Santi was addressing the subject of traditional and alternative Thai medicine at the ministry’s annual policy communication meeting. The government’s soft power initiatives now feature three wellness aspects, all earmarked for promotion: traditional cuisine, local herbal plants, and traditional massage.

In terms of cuisine and local herbs, numerous projects are underway. Promphat mentioned the Wellness and Healthy Cuisine Kick-Off Expo scheduled in Phetchabun district and a compilation of 15 Herbal Champion plants. He added that despite the training of nearly 30,000 traditional masseurs, the demand for certified massage therapists remains high, reported Bangkok Post.

Thavisin Wisanuyothin, currently serving as director of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), revealed the ministry’s goal to train 5,000 more masseurs through its programmes within the next six months. This masseur training scheme forms one of two primary policies of the DTAM, aiming to elevate Thai traditional and alternative medicine. The second policy centres around a service plan, which will encourage wider public use of traditional medicine, according to Thavisin.

In related news, the turbulent times of the Covid-19 pandemic have become a potent catalyst for the growing popularity of Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM), which finds its roots firmly intertwined with diverse aspects of Thai culture, ranging from religious practices to local cuisine.

This newfound acceptance of TTM as a fundamental fabric of Thai identity has emerged in the wake of the pandemic. Read more about this story HERE.

In other news, the Cannabis-Hemp Act‘s first draft has been completed by the Public Health Ministry, and despite public speculation, cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic. Read more about this story HERE.