“Tourism is the key industry driving the Thai economy today. But this industry is unpredictable outside [the country], as we don’t know when terrorists will attack again in France or in other places,” permanent secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra said yesterday.

The new unit would be responsible mainly for initiating and laying out the national tourism strategy for both the short and long terms.

The new body would also provide almost real-time information and data to those involved in the tourism industry such as investors, tour and hotel operators, and tourists themselves.

The new department is expected to be established within weeks. It will join the Tourism Department and Sports Department as the ministry’s three main departments.

“In Thailand, the industry has also changed a lot as arrivals to Thailand have tripled over the 13 years since the ministry was born,” Pongpanu said.

Tourism has been contributing 10 per cent of gross domestic product in the past 10 years but its significance jumped to more than 14 per cent last year.

The government early this week said the country would welcome 32 million international tourists this year and receive revenue of Bt2.4 trillion.

The Tourism Department is focusing on developing new attractions, while the Sports Department is dedicated to all sports.

The new department would also produce a sports-tourism strategy. Revenue from sports tourism was claimed to be as high as Bt30 billion or Bt40 billion last year.

With education credentials in economics and experience in management at public and private organisations including recently as deputy permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry, Pongpanu was appointed as the highest civil servant at the Tourism and Sports Ministry last year.