Source: REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
[Saba Sports News] Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin embarked on an official five-day visit to Italy from May 17th to 21st. Notably, during his visit, he attended the F1 Imola race with great authority and met with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. The meeting between the two held significant purpose – to discuss and strive for an agreement to host an F1 street race in Bangkok. The Thai Prime Minister expressed hope that the F1 Thai Grand Prix could be featured on the F1 calendar for either 2027 or 2028. If this vision becomes a reality, Southeast Asia will have a second F1 urban street circuit, in addition to Singapore. The esteemed Thai government is keen on promoting “soft power” initiatives to enhance Thailand’s international profile. As Thailand heavily relies on its tourism economy, hosting an F1 event would undoubtedly boost the development of its tourism industry. Taking Singapore as an example, it has been hosting the F1 Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit since 2008. The event attracts over 550,000 foreign tourists annually and generates approximately S$2 billion in tourism revenue.