Sustainable Tourism: Thailand's Path to Green Growth 2025!

Sustainable Tourism: Thailand's Path to Green Growth 2025!

Thailand focuses on sustainability in tourism

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has set itself the goal of promoting sustainable tourism in the country, focusing on initiatives such as Green Tourism, Creative Economy and Local Empowerment. These strategies are intended to promote not only the economic but also the cultural and spiritual growth of the tourism sector. For the new generation of travelers, “travel” increasingly means self-discovery in meaningful places. And it paid off: Bangkok was recently named the best city for Generation Z, underscoring the increased international trust in Thailand. nationthailand.com reports that this also reflects Thailand's role as a center for creativity, diversity and so-called Thai happiness.

One reason why Thailand is increasingly becoming the focus of international tourists is the increasing demand for sustainable offerings. The last three years have been challenging due to the pandemic, but now the country is seeing an increase in tourists and is focusing not only on high visitor numbers, but also on *high added value*. bangkokpost.com highlights that European travelers in particular are becoming more aware of their environmental impact and eco-friendly hotels are in high demand.

Green initiatives and social commitment

To advance sustainable practices in the tourism sector, the Thai Hotels Association (THA) plays a central role. Pyrenähr: Of over 1,000 THA hotel members, 116 have already received the “Green Hotel” certificate and 176 the “Green Leaf” certificate. These awards are recognized standards in Thailand and underline the hotels' commitment to sustainable tourism.

An impressive example of good practice is the Food Before Waste project in Phuket, which converts surplus food into organic fertilizer and clean energy. A kitchen center will also be set up to manage surplus food in each district. Furthermore, the “Phuket Tourism Carbon Center” was founded to calculate and compensate for tourists’ carbon footprint. However, raising awareness about sustainability is challenging, especially in smaller cities, as many hotels need to rethink their operations.

Experience sustainable travel in Thailand

The sustainable orientation of tourism is not just a trend, but is being pursued more and more seriously by numerous travelers, tour operators and accommodation providers. The focus is on protecting nature and supporting local providers. Encountering culture and exploring local markets also encourage more conscious travel. More and more travelers are attaching importance to environmentally friendly accommodation options and are making sure that the hotel sleeps are environmentally friendly. urlaubsguru.de gives some excellent examples: from luxury resorts like Soneva Kiri on Koh Kood to eco-friendly bungalows at Eco-Logic Resort in Ranong.

Sustainability is also evident in culinary experiences. Ideas like TongTomYai Homestay in Chumphon not only offer delicious local cuisine, but also opportunities to participate in environmental projects such as trash collection drives. And when planning a trip to Phuket, we recommend exploring the area on foot or by bike - this allows for relaxing experiences while supporting the local economy and community.

The trend clearly shows that sustainable tourism in Thailand is not only necessary, but is also becoming increasingly important. There is still a lot of potential to be discovered!