PATA Celebrates TCEB and DASTA’s New Chapter, Honours Long-time Partners in Thai Tourism Industry

Picture: L/R: Robert Maurer-Loeffler, Vice President Operations & General Manager, Centara Hotels & Resorts; Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Supawan Teerarat, President, National Food Institute; Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Director General, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA); Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts; Executive Board Member, PATA, and Chairperson, PATA Thailand Chapter; Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Former President, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB); and Peter Semone, Chair, PATA.

BANGKOK, June 27, 2025 – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), in collaboration with the PATA Thailand Chapter and Centara Grand at CentralWorld, co-organised a special gathering to honour two valued partners of the Association in Thailand’s tourism sector: Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, who recently concluded his tenure as President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, the newly appointed Director General of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA).

Held on Tuesday, June 17 at CRU Champagne Bar, the rooftop venue of Centara Grand at CentralWorld, the event marked both a heartfelt farewell and a warm welcome, respectively.

“Today, I am honoured to celebrate two of PATA’s dearest friends, both of whom have dedicated many years to collaborating with the Association,” said PATA Chair Peter Semone during the gathering. “While we bid farewell to Khun Chiruit, our appreciation for his leadership and support extends well beyond his tenure at TCEB. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for him. At the same time, we extend our warmest congratulations to Khun Siripakorn on his well-earned appointment and look forward to continuing our close collaboration with him and DASTA in the years ahead.”

Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts; Executive Board Member, PATA, and Chairperson, PATA Thailand Chapter, who led the effort in organising this gathering noted, "The PATA network has always been about forging lasting connections and uplifting the tourism family in times of need. At this crucial turning point, we must focus on connecting past, present, and future leaders from both the public and private sectors to ensure the meaningful progress of our industry and community."

As President of TCEB, Chiruit played a pivotal role in positioning Thailand as a leading MICE destination. Under his leadership, TCEB actively collaborated with PATA in co-organising events such as the PATA Travel Marts and PATA Destination Marketing Forums, providing both technological and strategic support that advanced the shared goal of establishing Thailand as a central tourism hub in Southeast Asia.

In Siripakorn’s previous role as Deputy Governor for International Marketing Europe America Middle East and Africa, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), he was a consistent advocate for sustainable tourism and a longtime supporter of PATA initiatives. His appointment to lead DASTA, also one of PATA’s key allies and a prominent voice of sustainability in Thailand’s tourism landscape, marks a promising chapter for collaborative efforts in sustainable destination development.

The evening welcomed many esteemed guests, including Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of TAT, and Supawan Teerarat, President of the National Food Institute.