August 8, 2023 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a press conference to launch the STAR project: Sustainable Tourism Acceleration to drive forward the development of the supply side of the tourism industry and upgrade the tourism supply chain to sustainable tourism standards under the concept of “Let’s join hands to create sustainable Thai tourism” in line with the Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs). The project aims to drive balanced change in all dimensions towards becoming a high value and sustainable tourism destination. The event was held at the Thanarat Hall, TAT Building. Assistant Professor Chol Bunnag, Director of the Centre for SDG Research and Support (SDG Move), also attended the event.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of TAT, said that the creation of a new tourism ecosystem that emphasizes quality tourism along with the creation of sustainability standards is at the heart of the “revival” of the Thai tourism industry. In order to achieve this goal, TAT emphasizes the acceleration of the supply chain, Shape Supply, to develop on the basis of safety and sustainability under the concept of “Let’s join hands to create sustainable Thai tourism” leading to high value services & standard. This will be done by creating sustainable tourism standards based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, which are 17 goals, to the 17 STGs that reflect sustainability. This will deliver “valued experiences” to tourists and create a ripple effect and raise awareness among tourists to care for the environment through responsible tourism. This is in the midst of a changing environmental situation that has led to global warming and the degradation of natural resources, which are becoming increasingly severe. This has led to the loss of biodiversity and the El Niño phenomenon that many countries around the world are facing.
The STAR Project: Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating is an upgrade of the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) project. It is a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MCTS) through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) through the Department of Disease Control, the Department of Health, the Department of Health Service Support, and government and private agencies in the tourism industry.
The project aims to make tourism a part of the disease control measures, and to provide tourists with a good experience, happiness, and confidence in the safety and hygiene of Thai tourism products and services. It also reflects the cooperation between partners to create a valuable and sustainable image for Thai tourism, and to increase Thailand’s competitiveness as a Sustainable Destination.
Under the project, the “Sustainable Rating Star” certificate will be awarded for a period of 2 years to tourism operators who pass the self-assessment criteria. There are 3 levels, as follows:
- 3 stars: For operators who pass STG 13, STG 16, and STG 17, for a total of 3 goals.
- 4 stars: For operators who pass STG 13, STG 16, STG 17, and any other 6 STGs, for a total of 9 goals.
- 5 stars: For operators who pass STG 13, STG 16, STG 17, and any other 9 STGs, for a total of 12 goals or more.
In addition, tourism operators who participate in the project and continuously maintain sustainable tourism standards will be considered for selection to participate in TAT’s sales and marketing activities in both Thailand and abroad in the future.
Assistant Professor Chol Bunnag, Director of the Centre for SDG Research and Support (SDG Move), said that SDG Move has a vision and mission to drive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He said that the collaboration with TAT this time is very beneficial to driving tourism through SDGs in a more integrated and concrete way. This will focus on participation according to the roles of all stakeholders in the tourism industry. The development of these criteria will drive the tourism ecosystem to be able to accommodate quality tourists sustainably in all dimensions: economic, social, environmental, and governance.
There are 17 STGs Easy assessment criteria in total. From the definition of the “Sustainable Rating Star” levels, it can be seen that the 3 STG goals are:
- STG13 aims to reduce greenhouse gases in the tourism sector and promote adaptation to climate change.
- STG16 focuses on safety in the tourism sector.
- STG17 aims to achieve the STGs through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
These are the primary criteria for businesses, as they are urgent due to natural disasters and global warming. He would like to encourage businesses to be aware of and see the importance of this in order to drive the industry as a whole.
Ms. Maria Poonlertlarp, Miss Universe Thailand 2017 and environmental activist, said that she would like to thank TAT for giving her the opportunity to be a part of this great project. She said that she is personally aware of and cares about the environment and reducing greenhouse gases. This is because the impact of these issues is widespread, affecting all ecosystems on the planet.
The same is true for tourism. Nature and the environment are important assets for tourism. They provide beauty, abundance, generate income, and create economic stability. Therefore, choosing to travel in a responsible manner is important. This will ensure that our tourism creates value for society, the environment, and communities, from the beginning to the end.
She would like to invite all tourists to help support the project by looking for the STAR symbol before they travel.She also encourages everyone to be a small part of driving the development towards sustainability.
Tourism operators who are interested can apply to participate in the STAR project: Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating from August 16, 2023 onwards. You can apply on the website www.TATstar.org or follow more details on Facebook: TAT Star and inquire for more information Line official: @tatstar
Last Updated on April 4, 2024
