Co-located with
Co-located with
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, hotel and restaurant associations, and the private sector have joined forces to drive Thailand’s tourism industry forward, upgrade the ecosystem throughout the entire value chain, and strengthen competitiveness. Most recently, they jointly opened Food & Hospitality Thailand (FHT) 2026 under the theme “All Sectors, One Destination,” connecting every sector of the industry in one destination. The event brings together four major exhibitions, presenting products, technologies, and solutions from more than 3,000 brands from over 20 countries. More than 30,000 Thai and international participants are expected to attend. Mr. Passakorn Rangsiwatanasak, Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, delivered congratulatory remarks, while Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, had the honour of presiding over the opening ceremony.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), spoke about the importance of tourism as an economic driving mechanism, stating that the tourism industry contributes to revenue generation, employment, and the distribution of economic opportunities. As the global tourism landscape changes rapidly, raising quality and competitiveness is therefore one of TAT’s important missions. Today, tourism does not refer only to tourist attractions or destinations; it also arises from the strength of the entire tourism ecosystem. Hotels, restaurants, food and beverage businesses, services, technology, and qualified personnel all play a role in creating experiences and impressions for tourists. Therefore, upgrading the tourism industry requires cooperation among the government, private sector, associations, and business operators, together with the application of technology and innovation and continuous personnel development. Cooperation between the public and private sectors, or “Public-Private Synergy,” is thus an important mechanism for strengthening competitiveness and sustainably advancing Thailand towards becoming a leading global tourism and hospitality destination. FHT 2026 is one platform that reflects this cooperation in a concrete way, connecting all sectors to exchange knowledge, discover new technologies and solutions, build business networks, and extend opportunities to develop Thailand’s tourism, food, and hospitality industries so that they are ready for global competition.
Regarding the hotel business sector, Mr. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said that the association is very pleased to take part in developing hotel business operators to overcome all challenges. At FHT 2026, the association has prepared knowledge-sharing activities that will help transform the future of the hotel business, including an analysis of the direction and growth opportunities of the hospitality industry in Asia at AHRA Seminar 2026, under the topic “Hospitality Industry Direction: Where Asian Hospitality is Going and How We Get There.” This session brings together leaders of hotel associations from Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam to exchange perspectives on jointly driving Asia’s hospitality industry forward. The programme also covers the use of AI innovation to revolutionise operations and marketing in order to deliver superior guest experiences, while promoting sustainability, which has shifted from an “option” to a “necessity” on which every hotel must take serious action, in the seminar “NEXT GEN HOSPITALITY: How Hotels Can Prepare for Tomorrow’s Guests.” This session brings together genuine young-generation professionals from Thailand’s hotel industry. The association therefore encourages business operators to attend and listen, so that they can use the knowledge as guidance for development and application in their own businesses.
Regarding the restaurant business sector, Ms. Thaniwan Koonmongkon, President of the Thai Restaurant Association (TRA), said that the restaurant industry is one of the important components of the tourism business. Amid the challenges posed by many factors in the current situation, restaurant businesses must compete by creating selling points that appeal to customers and tourists. Thailand possesses a wealth of culinary cultural heritage that is recognised by people around the world. At FHT 2026, the association has organised a knowledge-exchange activity on the topic “Thai Curry and Rice: From an Ordinary Dish to the KHAO GAENG Economy,” which will provide a new tourism alternative and connect with the entire economic system, from farmers and ingredient producers to restaurants, labour, and tourism. There will also be a seminar to help operators generate sales, entitled “Turn TikTok into a Tool to Increase Restaurant Sales.” The association therefore invites business operators at every level, from SMEs to large restaurant chains, to seize these opportunities and build on the knowledge gained, in order to jointly raise the standards of Thailand’s foodservice businesses for strong and sustainable growth.
Mr. Manu Leopairote, Chairman of Informa Markets in Thailand, the event organiser, said that throughout more than three decades of organising Food & Hospitality Thailand (FHT), “We are extremely proud to have played a part in connecting businesses, experts, associations, and partners in Thailand’s tourism, food, and hospitality industries. Today, the event continues to grow and develop alongside the tourism sector.” The theme of this year’s event is “All Sectors, One Destination,” bringing all business groups in the tourism industry together in one event. Business leaders, products, technologies, solutions, and experts from Thailand and abroad have been brought together to exhibit across eight zones: Food & Drinks, Cafe & Bakery, Shop & Retail, Sips & Spirits, Foodservice Equipment, Hospitality Technology, Hospitality Style, and Cleaning Supplies & Equipment. Altogether, there are more than 3,000 brands from over 20 countries, and more than 30,000 international and Thai visitors are expected to attend. Furthermore, this year’s event is co-located with three other major exhibitions: HOTELEX Thailand and Hotel & Shop Plus Thailand, two major international exhibitions, and Agri Plus Expo 2026, organised by the Department of Foreign Trade. Bringing the four exhibitions together creates a comprehensive and complete business ecosystem, allowing different sectors to connect, cooperate, and discover new opportunities in one destination, including hotels, accommodation, restaurants, service businesses, retail, agricultural product innovations, and various services.
Mr. Manu further added that, as the tourism industry develops rapidly, technology, AI, sustainability, and customer expectations are constantly changing. Tourism businesses must therefore adapt and transform themselves to respond to the needs of customer groups in a timely manner. Creating positive impressions and delivering experiences will encourage word of mouth, repeat travel, and repeat use of services, benefiting both businesses and the country’s tourism industry. Therefore, participating in FHT 2026 provides an opportunity for people in the tourism industry and interested parties to come together to discover new ideas and solutions, exchange knowledge, establish future cooperation, and gain a valuable tool to help their businesses progress and achieve greater success.
Food & Hospitality Thailand (FHT) 2026 takes place from 19–22 August 2026 at Halls 1–4, G Floor, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Those interested in event information and visitor registration can visit www.fhtevent.com or Facebook: Food & Hospitality Thailand.Official Supported by:
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