Bangkok, 15 October, 2018 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), are launching a “CSR & SET in the Local” initiative to inspire more publicly listed Thai companies to join TAT’s sustainable tourism efforts.
It will provide information on packages and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities for companies or organisations wishing to interact with local communities. It also promotes sustainability through the “CSR & SET in the Local” initiative by focusing on Group FIT, MICE, meetings and the seminar business that is organised in local communities and secondary destinations.
TAT Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, said: “Together with the SET, we want to encourage more companies to play a part in sustainable tourism and community development. By increasing travel demand to local communities and secondary destinations more revenue filters down to the grass roots level.
“This is an ongoing effort and key component of the TAT’s Amazing Thailand ‘Go Local’ campaign. One of its most important missions is to promote responsible tourism to 55 secondary destinations around the country.”
Launch activities under the “CSR & SET in the Local” include: “Local Life & Learn” – companies listed on the SET can choose packages that benefit local communities. These range from “Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Educational Packages” that teach about sustainability according to the UN’s SDGs; “Growing Packages” that focus on human resource development; and “Village Route and Homestay” that promotes tourism to off-the-beaten-path destinations.
“Thailand Local Giving” – interested companies or organisations can shop for packages on the Amazing Thailand Go Local website and collect ‘happy points’ that can be donated to their preferred communities. The communities accumulate points until they achieve pre-set targets that are redeemable for community development projects designed to elevate that community’s standard of living.
This follows TAT’s move in August to enhance its ongoing responsible tourism strategy by announcing a new “Travel Thailand in Style, Reduce Plastic Waste” collaboration initiative with various stakeholders in a bid to cut tourism-related waste by up to 50 per cent by 2020.
TAT has also partnered with PTT Global Chemical and the Ecoalf Foundation in launching the “Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand”, making the kingdom the first Asian country to join the global oceans clean-up effort.
TAT’s sustainable tourism activies also recently caught the attention of Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha who hails TAT for promoting environmental protection activities. He cited examples on the Trat Dream Islands Run 2018, where runners helped collect garbage, and the World Ocean Day event in Phuket joined by some 60 entrepreneurs from Africa who also helped collect garbage on the beach. The PM said these are prime examples that TAT has successfully supported the government’s policy in promoting its environmental policy worldwide.
