Thailand moving toward sustainable tourism development

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported to the Cabinet that the strategic plan has adopted a vision that, by 2025, ASEAN will be a quality tourism destination offering a unique, diverse ASEAN experience, and will be committed to responsible, sustainable, and inclusive tourism development, so as to contribute significantly to the socio-economic well-being of ASEAN people.

Sustainable tourism growth can be achieved through the participation of local communities, as well as the public and private sectors. Emphasis must be placed on maintaining safety and preserving significant natural and cultural attractions. The natural environment must be protected, as well.

At the same meeting, the Cabinet also approved the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Governments of the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea on Strengthening Tourism Cooperation. Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul was assigned to represent Thailand in signing this memorandum.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported that the Thai government’s national tourism development plan for 2016-2017 places greater emphasis on community-based tourism. Minister Kobkarn said that in the national tourism development plan, Thailand aims to disperse income to local communities nationwide. It also plans to build a better quality of life for the local people, strengthen the communities, and promote the preservation of Thai culture and traditions. All these will lead to the conservation of the country’s natural resources and the sustainability of the country’s tourism industry as a whole.

In a tourism forum held in Bangkok on 16 January 2016, TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn stated that community-based tourism is a global trend. Today, travelers are in search for tourism products and services that take into account the environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This is a new aspect of tourism that TAT will be gearing toward for future tourism development of Thailand.

A speaker at the forum, the Director of Borneo Adventure, Sarawak, Malaysia, Mr. Robert Basiuk, lauded Thailand as a model destination that adopts strategies and practices toward sustainable tourism. He said that in order to achieve sustainability from the development and promotion of community-based tourism, which helps disperse income to all parts of society, the initiative would require cooperation from all involved, especially the private sector.