Earlier this month, Mr. Amnuay Thiamkeerakul, Executive Director of ASEAN, shared information in an interview with Australian travel journalist Deborah Dickson-Smith about the TAT's efforts to promote ecotourism and sustainable practices as part of its "Discover Thainess" campaign.

At the Thailand Travel Mart 2015 Plus this month, it was announced that Thailand's "Discover Thainess" marketing campaign will focus on high-spending, long-stay niche markets, including categories such as health and wellness, weddings and honeymoons, culinary tourism and maritime tourism.

Another aspect of Thai culture was the commitment to ecotourism and sustainable practices in the tourism sector. Mr. Amnuay Thiamkeerakul, Executive Director of ASEAN, explained this strategy.

“We know that Australians love the great outdoors, so we will look for ways to promote Thailand’s magnificent nature on the Australian market.”

“Our pristine national parks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Khao Yai National Park, are already very popular with domestic tourists, especially on long weekends and during school holidays. We are actively promoting Thailand’s Twelve Hidden Gems – twelve culturally unique and scenically stunning provinces, many of which are home to or located near national parks, such as Khao Kho National Park in Phetchabun Province and Mu Ko Chang National Park in Trat Province.”

"Our parks are teeming with exotic wildlife and lush vegetation. We believe that many Australians would greatly appreciate this as part of their Thailand experience."

Thailand has 148 national parks. To increase awareness of these parks, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has developed a website that provides information on accommodation, availability and online reservations, thus making it easier for tourists to plan their national park visits.

Mr. Thiamkeerakul also explained the government's efforts to promote sustainable practices in the tourism sector. The Green Leaf Foundation is an accreditation system developed with the support of the Thai government to advise and assist hotels in operating more sustainably and promoting their best practices.

"There are numerous programs supported by the government at the national, regional and local levels, such as those that educate farmers about sustainable and ecological production methods, encourage hotel managers to source food locally from these producers and connect them with each other."

"Ultimately, tourism is good for the environment. When tourism takes hold in a region, it creates a greater drive towards sustainable practices."

  • Department for National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Protection