Thailand promotes sustainable tourism for carbon neutrality

Tourism is a key part of Thailand's economy, and the country is working to make it more sustainable. As part of this effort, local and global tourism businesses are adopting practices to reduce their carbon emissions. Tourism currently contributes about 8% of worldwide carbon emissions, and Thailand aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In Phuket, the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation is leading the way with four main pillars of sustainability. They focus on better waste management to ease the burden on landfills, especially for organic waste. To support this, a project is underway to develop a robot that collects waste, particularly coconut materials left by tourists. The goal is for Phuket’s Old Town to become carbon neutral by 2030. The region will also host the first Global Sustainable Tourism Council conference in Thailand next year. The foundation plans to register over 600 hotels in Phuket as Green Hotel Plus, recognized for their sustainable practices. They are working to educate and train young people to help improve the local tourism sector. More than 14,000 students in Phuket have dropped out of school, which is concerning for the local economy. The foundation is seeking partnerships with schools to address this issue. Minor International, a major hotel and restaurant operator, is also focusing on sustainability. The company's chief sustainability officer noted that investors now seek companies that contribute positively to society and meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. The firm operates 562 hotels in 58 countries and aims to adjust to stricter sustainability regulations, particularly in Europe. While larger companies have more resources to implement sustainable practices, many smaller tourism operators in Thailand face challenges. Over 70% of the tourism sector is made up of small and medium-sized enterprises. There are simple and affordable changes, like waste separation, that smaller businesses can adopt quickly. However, larger investments, such as installing solar panels, might not yield immediate returns. The Thai government must carefully manage tourism growth while avoiding issues seen in some European cities. Minor International has ambitious plans, aiming to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions and support 3 million people by 2030. The company has received recognition for its corporate sustainability efforts, highlighting its commitment to a greener future in tourism.