London
– Four Thai hotels and resorts, an elephant sanctuary and a non-governmental
organisation promoting community-based tourism have been conferred the
Responsible Thailand Awards 2019 in recognition of their commitment to
sustainable and responsible tourism.
Organised by the
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in cooperation with the UK publishing
company Wanderlust Travel Media, the Awards “recognise and celebrate
organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to sustainable tourism
developments, as well as help protect the country whilst engaging and educating
tourists on local environmental issues.”
The Awards were
presented at the World Travel Market (WTM) on 4 November, 2019, in a ceremony
presided over by the Minister of Tourism and Sports, H.E. Mr. Phiphat
Ratchakitprakarn.
Created to highlight
Thailand’s dedication to the conservation of its country’s precious natural and
cultural resources and support sustainable tourism development, the Awards
recognise and celebrate organisations which have made an outstanding
contribution to growing Thailand as a sustainable tourism destination.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn,
Governor of TAT, said “This year, consumers engaged in the Awards, sharing their
thoughts on who should be a Responsible Thailand winner. It’s great that
consumers are so aware of responsible travel choices in Thailand, but we have a
lot more work to do to educate an even greater number of visitors coming to the
Kingdom.”
The Judging Panel
included:
– Ms. Lyn Hughes
(Editor-in-chief & Global Content Director, Wanderlust)
– Mr. Derek Moore
(Chairman, AITO)
– Ms. Claire Jenkinson
(Senior Destinations & Sustainability Manager, ABTA)
– Mr. Martin Symington
(Travel Journalist)
– Ms. Julie Middleton
(Head of Sustainable Practice, The Travel Foundation)
The criteria the judges
followed included the sustainability of each organisation, their demonstrable
successes and legacy benefits for both the Kingdom and visitors to it.
Best Marine, Nature
& Heritage
Winner: Thavorn Beach
Village Resort & Spa, “Save Nakalay Reef” Project
Profile: “Save Nakalay
Reef” is the first coral learning centre and nursery in Phuket that began
planting coral artificial structure frames and recovering broken coral to
rehabilitate in an onshore nursery. Undertaken in collaboration with the
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the project was designed to
restore, preserve and grow natural coral reefs in Nakalay Bay.
Judges’ comments: A
great example of a hotel actually pioneering a green project and taking it
seriously; a great example to its visitors and to other hotels.
Best Animal Welfare
Winner: Samui Elephant
Sanctuary
Profile: Samui Elephant
Sanctuary is the first elephant sanctuary established on Ko Samui in Southern
Thailand. Set on forested land, it offers a safe retirement home for elephants
which can no longer work in the logging and tourism industries.
Judge’s comments: The Sanctuary
has battled adversity to give elephants a better life and is a model for an
ethical elephant’s experience. Education is key to their work, and an outreach
programme is informing locals and visitors alike about the issues surrounding
elephant tourism.
Best Community Based
Tourism
Winner: G Adventures /
Planeterra
Profile: Planeterra is
G Adventure’s non-profit partner dedicated to ensuring communities touched by
tourism benefit from the opportunities it provides. Planeterra helps empower
local people to develop their communities, conserve their cultures, and create
human and supportive systems for their endeavours.
Judges’ comments: This
is a genuine and impressive case of tourism being a force for good. Nearly 700
community members are already directly benefitting from these new projects, and
they will serve as a great model for the future.
Best Eco-Lodge /
Eco-Hotel
Winner: Soneva Kiri
Profile: Soneva Kiri is
a luxury resort with a strong focus on sustainability. It has developed its own
Soneva Carbon Calculator to monitor the full footprint of its operations including
energy consumption, air travel, ground travel, freight, food, paper, waste and
water.
Judges’ comments: This
was an easy and unanimous decision, Soneva Kiri really is making a huge
difference through its ongoing work to be as environmentally friendly as
possible, and in its commitment to fighting climate change. Indeed, they are
making a positive impact in many areas, not least through reforestation and in
reintroducing hornbills to Ko Kut.
Best Hotel
Winner: Zeavola Resort
Profile: The Zeavola Resort
is directly on the beach of Phi Phi Island embedded into a jungle garden. If
offers barefoot luxury.
Judge’s comments:
Zeavola is taking sustainability seriously with a range of initiatives, which
are measured and reported on. They have even gone as far as publishing a
“Little Green Book”.
Best Green Steps
Winner: Poppies Resort
Profile: A boutique
hotel on the southern end of Chaweng Beach, Ko Samui. They went plastic-free in
February 2018.
Judges’ comments:
Poppies eschews plastic bottles and straws and makes guests aware of this
initiative even before they arrive. An excellent first step which will
hopefully influence other organisations.
