The “Eco-Discovery in Amazing Thailand” event was hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) from June 22 to 25, 2024, with the aim of advocating for sustainable tourism and bolstering Thailand’s reputation as a green travel destination.

Mr. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing- Asia and the South Pacific, said “The event showcased Thai tourism enterprises that are recognised for their outstanding quality and excellence in sustainable operations backed by the 14th Thailand Tourism Awards or TTA. The three-day activity was designed to illustrate a wealth of socially responsible tourism experiences in Thailand, emphasising Thai soft-power cultural values.”

This showcase gathered 24 travel experts along with 11 influencers and content creators from the ASEAN, South Asia, and South Pacific regions to participate in exploring exemplary sustainable tourism practices in various locations including Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Songkhram, and Phetchaburi from June 22 to 24.

In Chiang Rai, the tour included visits to the Chiang Saen Social Tourism Community Enterprise and Ban Tha Khan Thong Homestay, both recipients of the Thailand Tourism Silver Awards in the Attraction – Local and Community category.

The journey in Nakhon Ratchasima spotlighted the Ban Suk Somboon Social Tourism Community Enterprise, also a Silver Award recipient in the same category.

The combined Samut Songkhram-Phetchaburi itinerary featured Baanrimklong Homestay, recognized in the Attraction – Learning and Doing category; Ban Rai Krang Tourism Community, and Ban Tham Sua Homestay, both of which received awards in the Attraction – Local and Community and the Low Carbon & Sustainability – Attraction categories respectively.

On June 25, the participants met at The Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok for a product debrief, a trade meet, and a networking dinner.

The Product Debrief session allowed for the exchange of insights and recommendations from the international guests based on their experiences. Insights from this session will be utilized to enhance the offerings of these award-winning Thai tourism entities to better align with customer expectations and preferences.

Furthermore, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the CF-Hotels initiative and TAT’s ongoing commitment to promoting environmentally and socially responsible tourism.

The Trade Meet provided an opportunity for 20 Thai tourism businesses, including recipients of the 14th Thailand Tourism Awards and participants in the CF-Hotels initiative, to engage in discussions about potential collaborations with international tourism professionals.

The event concluded with a Networking and Farewell session for 80 attendees, including Thai tourism operators, international guests, strategic partners from both the public and private sectors, and local media representatives.

The event is anticipated to have reached over a million people, contributing to further enhancing Thailand’s image as a leader in sustainable tourism.