Senator Ladda Tammy Duckworth, a prominent figure from Illinois, USA and a Thai-American, has accepted an invitation from Sermsak Pongpanich, the Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, to serve as the First Honorable Tourism for All Ambassador.
"I am very pleased to be a bridge between Thailand and the United States regarding trade, investment, and tourism. I will do everything I can to help. I was born in Thailand, I love Thailand, and I want to invite Americans and people from all over the world to visit Thailand," Senator Tammy said during an online conversation with the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports on Saturday morning, June 1, 2024.
Regarding the Minister's proposal to appoint her as an honorary "Ambassador of Tourism for All," Senator Tammy expressed her gratitude and thanked the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports. However, due to her position as a Senator in the United States, she needs to check the legality of such a role. Nevertheless, she is willing and ready to help Thailand to the best of her ability.
During the Zoom conversation, Senator Tammy suggested that the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports develop a mobile application to recommend places and tourist attractions with accessible design, including locations with ramps, parking spaces, and restrooms for wheelchair users. This would promote tourism for all, ensuring accessibility and safety for people with disabilities.
"Families with wheelchair users or groups needing special assistance, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, those recovering from health issues, and families with young children using strollers, need to know which places in Thailand are accessible. When these people come to Thailand, including myself as a wheelchair user and my elderly mother, we want to know which places or tourist attractions have accessible designs, including hotels with rooms for wheelchair users and restaurants with ramps," Senator Tammy explained.
"Currently, Thailand does not have an application or communication platform about accessible design or places that are friendly to everyone. Therefore, I propose that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports collaborate with the network for accessible design and tourism to create an application recommending accessible places. Then, create a QR code for tourists with special needs to scan at the airport upon arrival in Thailand. This app would be very beneficial," Senator Tammy stated.
Sermsak Pongpanich, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, said that he would expedite the implementation of Senator Tammy's suggestions. He will collaborate with the Universal Design Foundation and the network for tourism for all to develop an application to recommend places and tourist attractions that can accommodate older adults, people with disabilities, wheelchair users, and every one, ensuring convenience and safety. He has also assigned the Department of Tourism to survey and create 100 accessible restrooms in the first phase. He plans to expand nationwide to support tourism for all at an international standard.
In addition, Senator Tammy held an online meeting with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Thai Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) Chairperson, to discuss cooperation between Thailand and the United States in expanding the market for Thai soft power.
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