Meaningful Spotlight: How Thai Businesses are Supporting Their Communities and Environments Through Sustainable Tourism
Recently, I embarked on Tourism Cares’ inaugural Meaningful Travel FAM with Thailand, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This journey aimed to elevate purpose-driven organizations in Thailand and showcase the country’s commitment to sustainable tourism. Over six days, we explored Bangkok and the Krabi province, uncovering the essence of meaningful travel through community conversations, handcrafted cuisine, immersive art, culture, and more. Read below to learn more about the Thai people and businesses that are using the power of tourism to build a more sustainable future for their neighbors, communities, and environments.
As part of the FAM, we visited a number of the Impact Partners featured on Tourism Cares’ Meaningful Travel Map, a digital tool that highlights vetted, sustainable organizations across the globe. Our first stop was Baan Rim Klong, a homestay and agritourism experience where visitors are immersed in traditional food production methods. Lek, the visionary behind this venture, has designed her business around supporting her local community. Guests can imbibe fresh coconut juice, explore the coconut sugar-making process, and even craft their own Pad Thai. I was extremely impressed with Lek’s commitment to sustainable growth by emphasizing the guest experience without compromising the roots of her community.
At Patom Organic Living, we witnessed an example of a business that has transformed over its 63 years into a mixed venture consisting of a café, agritourism experiences, and an organic market featuring local vendors. What I especially loved about this company is how it is leveraging connections with other tourism businesses to build more a sustainable system. Patom creates organic body care products and sells them to hotels and other establishments around Thailand, creating a stronger market demand for organic raw materials. Operating as a social enterprise, they direct 3% of revenue to their Sookjai Foundation, aiding the shift to organic farming and market connectivity for local suppliers. Now that’s how tourism can be used as a force for good!
How People and Planet Go Hand-in-Hand
Our visit to Nai Nang in Krabi province offered a glimpse into a community where sustainability is truly a way of life. This Muslim-majority area in southern Thailand has harnessed tourism to protect its mango forests and promote local industries. Our group tried its hand (with some success!) at creating steamed banana desserts, harvested and stir-fried greens for lunch, and hiked into the forest through trees and streams to release communities of bees to pollinate the local mango trees. The community's endeavors in organic farming and product processing underscore the sustainable utilization of natural resources, providing viable livelihoods while conserving their environmental heritage.
In Koh Klang, also in Krabi province and only reachable by boat from the mainland, guests have the opportunity to try traditional batik textile making, an eco-friendly dying practice using leaves and steam. I didn’t do well at that at all – but I did love connecting with the locals, who, despite limited shared vocabulary made us feel welcome and gave us some good laughs.
Back in Bangkok, our group visited Café Jardin, a restaurant located in the lobby of the Sivatel Hotel. They have infused sustainability into their menu, training their chefs on everything from sourcing to reducing food waste. Café Jardin received a Tourism Cares Impact Travel Fund grant of $5,000 (with financial support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand) to expand their program, “Kitchens to Chickens,” which uses food waste to feed black fly larvae, which is then sourced as feed for chickens that are harvested for food for their restaurant, reducing food waste and encouraging circular economy principles.
Setting the Stage with Meaningful Moments
This was more than a FAM trip for me; it was a deep dive into how tourism can potentially drive positive change and a hands-on expression of what meaningful travel can be. Through experiences that meld cultural heritage with environmental care, Thailand’s Impact Partners are not just offering travel experiences; they are setting a benchmark for the global travel industry. They serve as a model for how tourism can be a catalyst for good and promote sustainable practices, while simultaneously creating meaningful moments for guests that will leave them more fulfilled, inspired, and ready to come back for more.
I invite you to explore the Meaningful Travel Map of Thailand to discover more about these initiatives and learn how you can create meaningful moments for your clients, too.
Tourism Cares is appreciative of the support and dedication of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Delta Airlines, Korean Air, and Globe Holiday who were indispensable toward the success of this program.
Photo Credit: Candy Krajangsri - Tourism Authority of Thailand