The event brought together media representatives and local leaders to spotlight sustainable travel practices and encourage environmentally conscious tourism in Phuket.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by Samyot Pathan, President of the Old Town Community Enterprise, who emphasised the area’s role as a model for low-carbon tourism.
The day’s activities highlighted the charm and cultural heritage of Phuket Old Town while minimising environmental impact.
Participants explored the community by foot, beginning with a visit to the iconic ’Bann 92’, followed by stops at Woo Café and the historic China Inn.
The itinerary also included a scenic journey through the Old Town aboard the ’Dragon Line’ free electric vehicle (EV) bus provided by Phuket consortium PKCD and a city tour by electric bicycle.
The initiative aims to inspire sustainable travel habits and raise awareness about environmental conservation, said an official report of the event.
By integrating eco-friendly modes of transport, the program seeks to reduce pollution and enhance the visitor experience through a closer connection with local culture and heritage, the report added.
This effort aligns with the Department of Tourism’s broader strategy to promote low-carbon tourism routes in various provinces, positioning Phuket as a leading example of responsible travel in Thailand, the report noted.
CARBON REDUCTION IN MOTION
At the 25th International Island Tourism Forum (ITOP), held in Phuket in September, Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, Chairman of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation, led a team presentation of the ‘Phuket Old Town Carbon Neutrality Project’, which aims to have Phuket Old Town area attain ‘carbon neutrality’ status and becoming a ‘zero-emission’ destination by 2065.
The forum attracted over 150 leaders and policymakers from island destinations worldwide.
Mr Bhummikitti’s daughter, Ms Kanruthay, Project Coordinator, took to the stage to present data gained as the first step of the project. With actual metrics, policies can be created to achieve specific results.
The data was accumulated through a collaborative project by Phuket City Municipality, and the Big Data Institute, along with the Pollution Control Department Region 15 branch and Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus.
The data aggregation began after talks with the project partners were held in December last year. The goal of the meeting was to explore how data technology can be used to assess the carbon footprint of various activities in the Old Town area.
Ms Kanruthay explained the goals of reducing carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and reaching net-zero emissions by 2065.
The starting point was assessing the current greenhouse gas emissions in Phuket Old Town, which Ms Kanruthay said from January to June 2024 were:
- Transportation, released at 34,531 (KgCO2e)
- Waste released at 12,529 (KgCO2e)
- Wastewater released at 36,513 (KgCO2e)
- Electricity usage released at 442,259 (KgCO2e)
“As a result, Phuket Old Town released in total 525,832 (KgCO2e),” Ms Kanruthay said. (See full report here.)