Bangkok: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced a collaborative effort with 20 partners to promote sustainable tourism in Thailand by 2030. The initiative, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to align the Thai tourism industry with the Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs).
According to Thai News Agency, the signing ceremony, held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, was co-chaired by Mr. Surawong Thienthong, Minister of Tourism and Sports. The memorandum signifies a commitment from both public and private sector agencies to enhance the tourism ecosystem in Thailand, focusing on sustainability and quality growth.
Mr. Surawong emphasized the government's focus on upgrading Thai tourism to meet quality and sustainability standards across economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. He described the joint declaration as a pivotal step towards achieving the sustainable tourism target by 2030, with efforts centered on creating a stable future for Thai tourism through concrete operations and integration.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, highlighted sustainability as a primary mission for TAT. She noted that TAT is aligning its efforts with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has developed specific Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs) for the tourism industry. These goals are intended to guide the development of tourism products and services and promote environmentally friendly business practices, certified by TAT through initiatives like the STGs Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating (STGs STAR) and Carbon Footprint Hotels (CF-Hotels).
The signing ceremony included participation from several government agencies, private sector organizations, and civil society groups such as the Department of Tourism, Sports Authority of Thailand, Greenhouse Gas Management Organization, and the Sustainable Tourism Area Development Administration Organization. Other notable participants included the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Tourism Council of Thailand, and various associations and corporations like Central Group Co., Ltd., Asset World Corporation, and Dusit Thani Public Company Limited.
This collaborative effort will span from 2025 to 2027 and aims to increase the number of tourism operators and communities certified under TAT's sustainability criteria. The initiative will also focus on developing a net-zero carbon tourism route, promoting carbon-neutral MICE activities, and implementing environmentally friendly practices in sports tourism and accommodation sectors.
TAT believes this cooperation model will be instrumental in driving sustainable growth in Thailand's tourism industry, setting a precedent for collaboration across various sectors.