Thailand hosts first batch of 14 Saudi tourism interns

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13 Feb, 2025

Thailand hosts first batch of 14 Saudi tourism interns

Bangkok – Fourteen Saudi students of tourism and hospitality management have arrived in Thailand for an inaugural training and internship programme to learn from the Thai tourism experience. Thailand is the first Asian country chosen for this on-the-job training programme funded entirely by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, including air-fares, board and lodge.

All visiting Thailand for the first time, the 10 male and four female students of King Khalid University (KKU), aged 22-24, will spend seven weeks in Thailand, ten students at the Amatara Phuket wellness resort and four at the Al Meroz hotel in Bangkok.

The internship is one of multiple Peace Dividend activities under way right across the spectrum of growing Thai-Saudi economic, social, cultural and educational relations since the diplomatic patch-up between the world’s most important Buddhist and Islamic kingdoms in January 2022, clearly demonstrating the Power of Peace as the fundamental prerequisite for all forms of human development.

From left to right, Mr Phanthachak Wongprecha – CEO, The Diplomat Network; Mr Natthakorn Watcharapreeyakorn – General Manager, Al Meroz Hotel; Mr Jakkapan Rattanapet – Group CEO, World Reward Group; Khun Panchana Wattanasathien, President of Khaoyai Tourism Association; Dr. Reham Mashat, Dean, Faculty of Tourism, King Khalid University; Mr. Ahmed Alzahrani, Professor, King Khalid University; and Mr Charkrienorrathip Sevikul, Former Director of Middle East Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

An exchange of gifts between Dr Rehat, Mr Charkrienorrathip Sevikul, and Khun Panchana

Dr. Reham Mashat, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at KKU, delivering her remarks

The training programme will cover Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Marketing & Reservations. The students will be accommodated in the staff dormitories, giving them a chance to interact personally and professionally with their Thai counterparts.

Both sides have been provided cross-cultural training courses to prepare them for the experience. The Thais will also get a chance to learn from the Ramadan fasting month, which is due to start on or around 28 February.

All the Saudi interns are final year students at KKU based in Aseer Province. Central to the Kingdom’s tourism growth strategy, Aseer is known for its mountainous landscapes, pleasant climate, and rich heritage. It is being developed as a global year-round destination through substantial government investments in infrastructure, eco-tourism, and cultural offerings.

The students had to undergo an English interview and basic hospitality online interview. The Saudis are planning to send over 400 students to Thailand for training by 2026. The next batch is likely to be here in January 2026.

This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to attract 100 million tourists annually by 2030 and position the Kingdom as a major global tourism hub. The Apprenticeship Program for Training in the Tourism Sector has been launched by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism through collaborations with leading global hospitality institutions.

According to Dr. Reham Mashat, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at KKU, “As Saudi Arabia progresses on its Vision 2030 journey, this partnership with Thailand reflects the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to nurturing a robust tourism industry and developing a new generation of leaders poised to elevate the nation’s hospitality and travel sectors.”

The logistics and coordination of the internship program in Thailand are managed by World Reward Group. A key component of this program is its collaboration with Siam Senses, a Thai hospitality management brand under World Reward Solutions, with expertise in managing luxury and mid-range hospitality properties.

The Al Meroz Hotel in Bangkok is the leading halal-certified hotel catering to Muslim travelers, and the Amatara Welleisure Resort in Phuket is a wellness resort known for combining luxury with holistic well-being.

The group arrived in Phuket on 13 February… Here are some images..