TAT proclaims winners of Accountable Thailand Awards 2022

LONDON – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) introduced the winners of the Accountable Thailand Awards 2022 – the fifteenth version of the much-valued accolades which recognise the dominion’s champions of sustainable tourism within the classes of Animal Welfare, Group Primarily based Tourism, Eco Lodge/Eco Lodge, Lodge, Marine, Nature and Heritage, and Inexperienced Steps.

The Awards have been introduced on the World Journey Market (WTM) in London on 7 November, 2022, in a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Tourism and Sports activities, H.E. Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. The award ceremony was held as a part of Thailand’s participation at WTM 2022.

The winners are Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai (Animal Welfare), Laem Sak Group Tourism Enterprise in Krabi (Group Primarily based Tourism), Tongsai Bay on Ko Samui, Surat Thani (Eco Lodge/Eco Lodge), The Sarojin in Khao Lak, Phang-nga (Lodge), Huge Blue Conservation in on Ko Tao, Surat Thani (Marine, Nature and Heritage), and Mild Giants (Inexperienced Steps).

Since their launch, the Accountable Thailand Awards have steadily gained extra curiosity every year. The 2022 awards noticed 1,602 Thai tourism companies nominated, practically thrice the variety of nominations within the 2020 awards which was the final time they have been held.

This exhibits the growing dedication of each travellers and Thai tourism companies in the direction of extra sustainable, extra accountable and extra environment-friendly journey – the course Thailand is more and more heading in with the ‘Go to Thailand 12 months 2022-2023: Wonderful New Chapters’ advertising and marketing marketing campaign and the adoption of the Thai authorities’s Bio-Round-Inexperienced (BCG) Financial system Mannequin in reworking the business.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, stated “It’s great to see increasingly curiosity within the Accountable Thailand Awards every year they’re held, and I want to categorical my warmest thanks and congratulations to the 2022 winners. Extra sustainable, extra accountable and extra inclusive journey is now extra essential and extra related than ever, and thru these awards we search to acknowledge the implausible efforts of not simply the winners however the wider tourism business in addition to the travellers who embrace the experiences on provide.”

The factors the judges adopted included the sustainability of every organisation, their demonstrable successes and legacy advantages for each the Kingdom and guests to it. This yr’s winners have been once more chosen by the judging panel comprising a few of the main lights of the journey world, particularly Mr. Derek Moore, Chairman of AITO – The Specialist Journey Affiliation; Mr. Martin Symington, award-winning journey journalist; Ms.  Lyn Hughes, Founder and Editor in Chief of Wanderlust journal; and Mr. Mark Stratton, journey author and broacaster.

Finest Animal Welfare: Elephant Nature Park
Elephant Nature Park supplies a secure haven for greater than 100 rescued elephants and is the primary elephant sanctuary of its variety established in Thailand. Most of the elephants dwelling on the sanctuary have been rescued from road begging, elephant using, and exhibits, the place they usually sustained each bodily and psychological accidents. The park’s herds embrace blind, crippled, orphaned,and ‘senior’ elephants, who are actually free to reside a peaceable life in pure environment, the place they’re liked and revered. As well as, ENP helps the local people by creating jobs and buying regionally grown produce.

Judges’ feedback: Aside from all the same old elephant actions additionally they do rainforest restoration, have academic programmes, they arrange Eleflix through the pandemic, they’ve 4 vets on web site, they’ve their Elephant Meals Financial institution, they’ve their Farm to Herd initiative, they usually arrange their Jumbo Categorical cell clinic. A transparent winner!

Finest Group Primarily based Tourism: Laem Sak Group Tourism Enterprise
Laem Sak Group Tourism Entreprise consists of 400 members inside the Laem Sak sub-district of Krabi province, who reside in 10 completely different villages. Laem Sak Group Tourism’s targets are to guard the marine and coastal assets within the Ao Luek space, to advertise group tourism as a device for native improvement on this multi-cultural group, and to offer native tourism companies and foster cultural trade. Laem Sak Group Tourism Entreprise actively engages the youth and locals to function excursions within the Ao Luek space and to extend revenue for the fishing households and farmers.

Judges’ feedback: Simply what group tourism ought to be about. They’ve delivered the next constructive end result: 12 micro-enterprises immediately benefiting from group tourism, 400 group members positively impacted immediately and extra than1,000 travellers visiting the group.

Finest Eco-Lodge / Eco-Lodge: Tongsai bay
The Tongsai Bay was the primary five-star luxurious lodge to be constructed on the island of Ko Samui. Because it was established in 1987, the Tongsai Bay continues to underscore the atmosphere. The Tongsai Bay has gained many awards for its potential to implement revolutionary environmental practices.

Judges’ feedback: A formidable Inexperienced Coverage which encompasses so many elements of sustainability. And we love the best way friends are knowledgeable an informed on the problems, serving to them to make the precise selections.

BEST Lodge: The Sarojin
The Sarojin is a luxurious boutique residence positioned in Khao Lak. Properly-known for its luxurious providing, impeccable service, high-quality eating, ‘Only for Two’ experiences and group involvement, the Sarojin additionally operates a variety of sustainable and inexperienced initiatives to attenuate the resort’s and visitor’s impression on the atmosphere.

Judges’ feedback: This lodge by no means rests on its laurels however persistently strives to enhance its sustainability credentials as their newly launched “One Reserving One Tree” initiative exhibits. Spectacular.

Finest Marine, Nature and Heritage: Huge Blue Conservation
Huge Blue Conservation is a marine conservation initiative on Ko Tao. In addition to providing diving by means of its personal diving faculty, it really works with different dive companies to make sure finest apply across the island’s reefs, affords conservation programs, displays reef programs, organises seaside clean-ups and contributes to world marine analysis and works to guard the atmosphere round Ko Tao.

Judges’ feedback: From working in partnership with different companies to providing a marine biologist for every week course, but additionally group involvement, training of locals and guests alike, and essential marine analysis.

Finest Inexperienced Steps: Mild Giants
An NGO which has been sponsoring using camp elephants throughout COVID-19, have a brand new initiaive to rewild former captive using camp elephants in native jungle by supporting the incomes of Karen hilltribe villagers (the those who lease them to the camps).

Judges’ feedback: They’re launching a exceptional new scheme – this doubtlessly could possibly be the subsequent degree up from rescuing elephants by truly semi-rewilding them in a approach that advantages a marginalized group.