In spite of having to deal with the numerous crises affecting the Thai travel and tourism industry, the Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT) has not lost sight of its wider environmental responsibilities and the desire to develop a long-term and sustainable industry for future generations.
New initiatives like the “Seven Greens” project and Thailand Tourism Awards are being specifically designed to ensure that the local management of the industry remains as powerful and effective as global marketing efforts.
TAT Governor Mrs Phornsiri Manoharn, said “It is important to maintain the delicate balance between tourism promotion and environmental protection to ensure long-term sustainability. We are extremely pleased to see that the industry is extending its full cooperation, without which nothing would be possible.”
She added, “The initiatives are to protect and preserve the environment and restore environmental quality by raising environmental awareness and by promoting increased Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).”
TAT’s Seven Greens programme provides a conceptual framework and establishes practical guidelines for carefully balancing tourism promotion and a healthy, sustainable environment. It facilitates the formation of strategic partnerships and provides a cooperative framework for the implementation of green initiatives in the following seven areas.
- Green Heart: to urge tourists to be socially responsible and environmentally aware as well as to be part of global efforts to help protect and preserve the environment at all tourist attractions
- Green Logistics: to encourage more environmentally-friendly tourism-related modes of transport to minimize direct and indirect environmental impact
- Green Destinations: to promote responsibly managed tourist sites that respect the environment
- Green Communities: to support community-based tourism in both urban and rural areas that place greater importance on responsible tourism management, and that also promote conservation of the environment, local traditions and ways of life
- Green Activities: to promote tourism activities that are well-suited to local communities. These provide visitors with engaging and culturally-enriching experiences without compromising the integrity of the environment. This includes taking carrying capacity into proper consideration.
- Green Service: to urge all tourism-related service providers to create positive first impressions for visitors, and to win hearts and minds by attaining higher quality assurance standards whilst demonstrating respect, care and concern for the environment
- Green [Plus]+: to encourage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among operators by encouraging them to give back to the communities in which they operate. For example, by refraining from undertaking any acts that might cause environmental damage. It also includes seeking their active participation in various activities and seeking their support for tourism business operators, manufacturers and organizations that promote energy-saving initiatives or develop renewable energy sources and environmentally-friendly products.
The project has received broad support from public sector agencies involved in promoting tourism, private sector tourism operators and tourism-related service providers, as well as public and non-governmental organizations, communities, media representatives and individual tourists — both Thai and foreign.
TAT is working with all the stakeholders to chart an appropriate course and clearly identify their individual roles and responsibilities as part of an integrated industry plan. The TAT will endeavour to ensure that the implementation of the initial phase is successfully completed during a three-year pilot period from 2008-2010.
For further details on some “Seven Green” activities, please check out www.tatnews.org
Another strategy is to reward best practises and motivate other industry players to follow suit. As in previous years, the 7th Thailand Tourism Awards organised on the World Tourism Day (27 September 2008) contained a number of awards for environmental preservation.
Considered to be the industry’s 'Hallmark of Excellence', the Thailand Tourism Awards were first introduced by TAT in 1996 with the recognition and endorsement of the World Tourism Organisation(WTO). They recognise tourism-related organisations in the private and public sectors which have demonstrated innovation and creativity in the field of sustainable tourism, conservation and environmental protection efforts.
To reflect global trends and address new priorities on the national tourism agenda, the judging criteria for the 2008 Thailand Tourism Awards emphasised the following: issues related to the environment, action taken in response to global warming/climate change, participation, sufficiency economy, good governance, corporate social responsibility and overall integration.
The Award Categories include Tourist Attractions, Accommodation, Tour Programmes, Tourism Development and Promotional Organizations, Communication and Public Relations Works and Health Tourism.
For further details on recent and past award winners, please check out www.tatnews.org.
Mrs Phornsiri, concluded “The Thai tourism industry firmly believes that efforts to protect and preserve the environment are consistent with Thailand’s quest to achieve sustainable tourism.”
Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org
|
