Public Health Minister Delays Decision on Smoking Rooms Proposal by Airports of Thailand
PUBLISHED: 14 Feb 2025 at 18:44
The proposal by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to reintroduce smoking rooms at international airports faces significant challenges as Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin indicates there is no urgency to proceed. On Thursday, the minister stated that a working group is currently conducting a study on the implications of having smoking rooms within airport terminals.
Last week, he communicated via social media that there is no established deadline for the completion of this assessment. “This matter requires careful consideration before arriving at a solution,” he emphasized. He added that the working group will present their findings to the National Tobacco Control Committee once progress is made, without any specific timeline.
Minister Somsak, who also chairs the National Tobacco Control Committee, is in a pivotal position regarding this decision. He suggested that increasing fines for individuals who smoke in restricted areas might be an avenue worth exploring. Smokers found in violation of public smoking regulations could face fines as high as 5,000 baht.
The ongoing debate entails whether smoking rooms should be reinstated in the six airports operated by AoT, which includes Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai. A regulatory change is necessary for the reinstatement of these facilities.
Since 2019, smoking rooms within airport terminals have been eliminated under strict anti-smoking legislation, and there are currently no designated smoking areas outside airport buildings. The AoT’s recent proposal stems from complaints from passengers facing extended connecting flight wait times who expressed a need for designated smoking spaces.
The AoT also highlighted that smoking is occurring in prohibited areas like restrooms, with some passengers willing to incur fines just to smoke. AoT President Kirati Kijmanawat raised concerns about the potential fire hazards associated with illegal smoking within airport premises, noting that some regional airports offer smoking facilities, contrasting with Thailand’s current policy.
In opposition to this initiative, the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation Thailand has pointed out successful examples of airports worldwide that remain entirely smoke-free, including prominent hubs in the US. Anti-smoking advocates argue that the health of the traveling public takes precedence, supported by declarations from international human rights bodies emphasizing the right to a clean and healthy environment.
Minister Somsak reiterated that any potential changes must carefully weigh both the tourism industry’s interests and public health considerations.
