In the deep waters off Phuket, hobby divers scour the sea to pick up garbage on holiday. Elsewhere, in one of Thailand's many villages, visitors are engrossed in baking banana bread using locally sourced ingredients. These activities are now in vogue, as the rise of sustainable tourism in the Land of Smiles mirrors a growing worldwide trend that is here to stay.
Research has shown that over 80% of global travellers feel that sustainable travel is important -- and Thailand is doubling down on environmentally friendly trips. With tourism a key pillar of the Thai economy, the country is promoting sustainable tourism development in major cities and secondary cities. It is one of the strategic prongs under the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model, introduced by the Thai government in 2021 to facilitate responsible economic development.
