Prime Minister Paetongtarn’s keynote address will be on the topic ‘Soft Power: Mechanisms for Creating Sustainability for Thai Tourism’, Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai announced yesterday (Mar 17).
The event aims to promote sustainable tourism development in Thailand, Mr Samawit said.
Joining the Vice Governor for the annoucnement were Chalam Attham, Deputy Chairman of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), and Phuket sustainability champion Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, Chairman of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand.
The event will bring together government agencies, private sector representatives and tourism entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge, share best practices and foster cooperation in sustainable tourism, explained an official report of the press event.
Phuket’s hosting of the TSTC 2025 follows its selection as the venue for the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference (GSTC) in 2026, an event organised with support from the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
Later this year, Phuket representatives will travel to Fiji to receive the official flag as the next GSTC host.
The upcoming conference aims to raise awareness of sustainable tourism practices and support the balance between economic growth, social responsibility and environmental protection. A key focus will be on helping tourism businesses adopt eco-friendly practices, reduce their environmental footprint, and generate economic value for local communities, Mr Bhummikitti explained.
With increasing pressure from international markets ‒ particularly in Europe, North America, and Australia ‒ on tourism businesses to comply with sustainability standards, the conference will provide insights into best practices, such as reducing carbon footprints, utilising renewable energy and implementing effective waste management systems, he said.
The event will also explore compliance with global sustainability regulations set by bodies like the United Nations, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and the European Union.
TSTC 2025 will feature three main components:
- Conference Sessions: Over 20 expert speakers will discuss key topics in sustainable tourism.
- Exhibition and Business Matching: More than 30 entrepreneurs will showcase sustainable tourism innovations, with networking opportunities for over 200 industry participants.
- Workshops: Hands-on sessions on topics such as MICE sustainability, carbon credit tree planting, and waste-to-income initiatives. Attendees will receive certificates for their participation.
The event aims to:
- Foster knowledge-sharing on sustainable tourism practices.
- Create a collaborative network among tourism stakeholders.
- Support the development and implementation of sustainable tourism policies.
- Connect tourism entrepreneurs with sustainable business partners.
- Promote academic research on sustainable tourism.
Attendees will also benefit from exclusive discounts offered by exhibitors.
The conference is backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), TCEB, the PPAO and Phuket City Development Co Ltd.
For further details about TSTC 2025, interested participants can contact the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation at Tel. 076-610365-6 or via email at phuketstdfinfo@gmail.com