The Cabinet, during its meeting on 30 July 2024, approved a budget of 275.65 million baht from the central fund of the emergency national expenditures to carry out the “Muaythai Soft Power Project 2024,” following a proposal by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

The project aims to upgrade Muay Thai (Thai-style boxing) from a national self-defense martial art to a sport at the global level. This will enable Muay Thai fighters, trainers and coaches, and those involved in the Muay Thai business to add value to the global standards of Muay Thai and have greater opportunities to compete internationally, as well as making this national sport better known worldwide.

The budget of 275.65 million baht will be spent on six major projects, as follows:

1. Developing Muay Thai knowledge, 4.93 million baht;

2. Increasing the number and efficiency of personnel in the Muay Thai sports circle, 46.6 million baht;

3. Organizing Muay Thai competitions to create awareness and stimulate the economy, 143.72 million baht;

4. Publicizing Muay Thai in Thailand and overseas, 23.64 million baht;

5. Certifying Muay Thai standards to generate national income, 51 million baht; and

6. Supervising, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting results, 5.7 million baht.

The Cabinet was told that, in 2024, the project was expected to increase the numbers of Muay Thai fighters (Thai citizens) to 6,032, Muay Thai fighters (foreign nationals) to 4,520, Muay Thai trainers (Thai citizens) to 700, Muay Thai trainers (foreign nationals) to 120, standard Muay Thai camps (in Thailand) to 500, and standard Muay Thai camps (overseas) to 50.

Moreover, this initiative is likely to generate 2,334 million baht in earnings and economic value for the country. It will also create awareness of Muay Thai activities in 190 countries throughout the world.