On 24 August 2026, H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to Washington, met with H.E. Mr. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, to discuss preparations for the upcoming visit of the Minister to the United States. During the visit, the Minister plans to participate in the “Sawasdee DC” Thai Festival, which the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington will host on Saturday, 19 September 2026, on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C. The festival aims to showcase Thailand’s cultural heritage and promote Thailand as an attractive travel destination among U.S. visitors.

On this occasion, the two sides discussed ways to further promote Thailand–U.S. cooperation in tourism and sports, including encouraging foreign films and television series to use Thailand as a filming location, organizing friendly matches and facilitating exchanges of athlete training camps, promoting cooperation in sports medicine, an area in which the United States has advanced expertise and capabilities, with a view to cementing Thailand’s position as a regional leader in the field.