The TAT Green Awards are intended to highlight, and further promote, Thailand’s dedication to the conservation of its country’s precious natural and cultural resources and support sustainable tourism development in tandem with the growing concern we all have for our planet. The awards recognize and celebrate TAT’s partners in the travel and tourism industry who have made an outstanding contribution to growing Thailand as a sustainable destination. Categories and winners included:

Best Tour Operator: Andaman Discoveries (award collected by Mr. Surapol Tritrakul, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA))

Best Large Hotel: Evason Phuket and Six Senses Spa (award collected by Victoria Sertic, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing)

Best Small Hotel: Faasai Resort and Spa (award collected by Mr. Prakit Chinamourphong, President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA))

The Tourism Authority of Thailand was honoured to be joined by HRH Princess of Thailand, Ubolratana who kindly presented the Green Awards (for the 3rd year) on the Thailand stand (AS7600).

“The Green Awards are a symbol of TAT’s thanks to outstanding quality and reliable tourism products offered by hoteliers and tour operators. The Awards are now in their third year, and for 2009/10, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is proud to announce a new partnership with responsibletravel.com” said Joanna Cooke, Marketing Manager for TAT UK. Responsibletravel.com launched their own Responsible Travel Awards back in 2004 and since then has published several policies in responsible tourism for some of the UK’s largest travel and tourism businesses and organizations. Michael Palin, famous travel writer and documentarian, has commended the Responsible Tourism Awards as “one of the most important ways that we can learn to travel better”.

“Naturally the Tourism Authority of Thailand were keen to work with responsibletravel.com, as a widely recognized leader in promoting responsible holidays, to develop and grow the TAT Green Awards into 2010 and together will develop new categories and criteria to better recognize and reward the Thai travel and tourism industry” continued Joanna Cooke. This year the awards have been judged in association with responsibletravel.com and the winners were chosen by Justin Francis MD of responsibletravel.com, based on previous entrants into the Responsible Tourism Awards between the years 2007 and 2009 with additional and supplementary research where necessary.

“Thailand’s commitment to responsible tourism is commendable — it runs deep within the soul of the country — from local tour operators and hoteliers through to the Princess of Thailand, HRH Ubolratana, who has a passion for a type of tourism that respects communities and environments. Responsibletravel.com welcomes this enthusiasm and is delighted to be involved in the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s 3rd Green Awards. It is our hope that this is the first stage of a longer term partnership to further develop Thailand’s responsible tourism strategy.” Said Justin Francis, MD of responsibletravel.com

Further Information from:
Joanna Cooke, Marketing Manager, Tourism Authority of Thailand, UK and Ireland
Tel: 0207 925 2511
E-mail: Joanna@tourismthailand.co.uk

Andaman Discoveries
Web site: http://www.andamandiscoveries.com/

Evason Phuket and Six Sense Spa, Thailand
Web site: http://www.sixsenses.com/Evason-Phuket/Accommodations-and-Rates.php?source=google

Faasai Resort and Spa
Web site: http://www.faasai.com/