Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, presently the Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, is to assume the Governor’s position, effective January 11, 2007. She will replace former governor Juthamas Siriwan who has been appointed an advisory position.

A tourism career veteran, Mrs.Phornsiri joined TAT immediately after graduating from Chulalongkorn University in 1970 and has remained with the state enterprise ever since, serving in a variety of domestic and international marketing positions.

Commenting on the appointment, Mrs Phornsiri said she was honoured to have been selected and would do her best to serve the industry that has become Thailand’s most important earner of foreign exchange.

“I am grateful for the trust that the selection committee, chaired by the Minister, has placed in me,” she said. “My real responsibility lies in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the million of people who work in this industry and many more millions to place their trust in visiting Thailand.”

She said the industry had many challenges to face in the year ahead and she looked forward to working with TAT staff, the ministry and both the public and private sectors to help Thai tourism retain its leadership role on the global stage.