Pimol Srivikorn, an adviser to the prime minister and chairman of the sports sub-committee in the National Soft Power Strategy Committee, said the initiative has already raised the standards of many Muay Thai trainers to a world-class level and provided them with more opportunities to spread Muay Thai culture abroad, reports the Bangkok Post.
He said the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) will open higher-standard testing centres in Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chon Buri and Bangkok to develop Muay Thai instructors and issue national certificates for qualified candidates.
A coordination centre to help connect instructors in Thailand with overseas clients who are interested in hiring them will also be established.
According to Mr Pimol, a plan for overseas roadshows is also in place. The roadshows, featuring well-known Muay Thai fighters as well as short classes and workshops, will kick off in Europe and the Middle East.
Mr Pimol said eight government-certified Muay Thai trainers, both male and female, will travel to Saudi Arabia in April to train the army and the country’s boxers at the request of the Thai embassy in Riyadh.
The instructors will each be paid B80,000 to B120,000 per month.