As global travelers increasingly seek eco-friendly destinations, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) partnered with LO-CARB to position Thailand as a leading sustainable tourism hub. Together, we launched a comprehensive campaign to educate and empower local tourism service providers, enabling them to meet the growing demand for sustainability and attract responsible tourists from around the world.
The Challenge
With the growing global demand for sustainable tourism, particularly from high-potential travelers in Europe, the USA, and Australia, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aimed to position Thailand as a premier destination for sustainable tourism. Additionally, TAT sought to equip Thai tourism entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to attract and retain sustainable tourists.
LO-CARB’s Solution
To address these challenges, LO-CARB partnered with TAT to launch the “Establishing Thailand as a Sustainable Tourism Destination” campaign. This initiative focused on enhancing the supply of sustainable tourism services through 3 strategic approaches:
- CARBON CAMP: Equipping Tourism Providers with Knowledge on Sustainable Tourism
- LO-CARB introduced the ‘Carbon Camp’—
a hands-on workshop designed to upskill tourism service providers with essential knowledge of low-carbon tourism. The workshop featured sessions on sustainability trends, case studies, and practical exercises, including carbon emission assessments using our proprietary platform, CarbonCal.
- The camp targeted a wide range of tourism providers, such as hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and transportation companies, with the goal of transforming their operations into low-carbon businesses.
- GHG Measurement & Reporting: Understanding and Managing Emissions
- A key element of transitioning to a low-carbon business is understanding how much emissions are generated and where the emission hotspots lie. Using CarbonCal, we calculated the carbon emissions for each participant and generated comprehensive GHG reports. These reports offered valuable insights into their overall carbon footprint and emissions per unit of service. Additionally, 35 selected participants engaged in pre-verification practice, simulating the carbon footprint auditing process, with our consulting team guiding them through preparation for formal audits.
- Sustainable Strategy: Actionable Plans for Emission Reduction
- At the conclusion of the camp, participants received a detailed carbon footprint report tailored to their businesses, along with a “Reduction Manual”—a practical guide outlining strategies to manage and reduce carbon emissions.
Results Achieved
- The ‘Low Carbon Camp’ was conducted in 7 provinces across 5 regions of Thailand, including Phuket, Chiang Mai, Kon Kean, Surat Thani (Samui), Kanchanaburi, Chonburi and Bangkok.
- A total of 330 tourism service providers attended the camp, with 35 entrepreneurs selected for pre-verification practice.
- Over 80% of participants expressed satisfaction with the overall campaign.
Through this initiative, LO-CARB has helped TAT take significant steps toward positioning Thailand as a leading destination for sustainable tourism while empowering local tourism providers to integrate sustainability into their core business strategies.