By Nick Butler at the Dusit D2 Resort Hotel in Phuket


Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul has spoken positively about a Thai bid to host the inaugrual World Beach Games ©Phuket 2014Thai Minister for Sport and Tourism Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul believes hosting the first World Beach Games would allow the country to show its "full potential to the world".


Speaking here during the ongoing Asian version, Wattanavrangkul, who assumed her post as part of the new military Government in August, believes the step up from continental to global level would boost both the country's tourism industry and its international reputation.


"Personally, I would like Thailand to raise their level from staging the Asian Beach Games to next host the World Beach Games," the official said after attending a medals presentation.


"It will be a good opportunity for Thailand to show its full potential to the world."


After being first announced last year as a collaboration between the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and SportAccord, a motion for the World Beach Games to go ahead was passed at last week's ANOC General Assembly in Bangkok.


It is thought they will take place for the first time in 2017, with no precise date or location expected to be announced until next year's General Assembly in Washington D.C, although ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, who also heads the Olympic Council of Asia, has revealed that multiple cities have already expressed interest.

It is hoped the success of the ongoing Asian Beach Games here in Phuket could boost Thailand's chances of hosting the first global version ©Getty ImagesIt is hoped the success of the ongoing Asian Beach Games here in Phuket could boost Thailand's chances of hosting the first global version ©Getty Images




The Asian Games have been held in capital city Bangkok on four occasions, most recently in 1998, but no Olympic Games or major global multi-sport event has ever taken place in the country.

Bangkok did bid for the 2008 Summer Olympics eventually awarded to Beijing, but failed to make it through to the candidature stage of the contest.

But after Thailand's organisation of the Asian Beach Games and last week's ANOC meeting has received praise from many figures including Sheikh Ahmad, confidence will be rising that more events can be successfully held here.

Indeed, Wattanavrangkul believes that "in the near future, Thailand will have "enough potential to be a candidate country for hosting major sports competitions", adding "this will help boost tourism".

This statement of intent comes after a tumultuous year for Thailand, with the Constitutional Court ordering Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several ministers out of office in May following several months of protest.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha was appointed Prime Minister in August and since then there has been a gradual relaxation of tension.

But in September two British tourists, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, were murdered while on holiday on the island of Koh Tao, 285 kilometres to the north-east of Phuket, exacerbating concerns over the safety of tourists in the country.

Safety will be a major concern to address if the nation is to host more major events, although security so far here at Phuket 2014 has been widely praised, with over 2,000 police drafted in to provide additional protection, and with no breaches having been reported.