Some 60 Phuket tourism businesses took part in a workshop at the Ramada Plaza Chao Fah Hotel in Wichit on Friday (May 24), held to promote sustainable business practices among local tourism operators.
The workshop, titled ‘TAT Star & CF Hotels Mini Workshop’, was presided over by Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, Director of the TAT Phuket Office.
The initiative aimed to enhance understanding and implementation of sustainable practices aligned with current tourism trends, providing a platform for future marketing opportunities, Mr Lertchai explained.
During the event, participants engaged in a detailed mini-workshop on enrolling in the TAT Star and CF-Hotels (‘Carbon Footprint Hotels’) programs. They also listened to experiences and management strategies from Phuket’s sustainability champions in the tourism industry.
Mr Lertchai highlighted that the TAT Phuket Office’s activities fall under the Phuket Luxclusive project, aimed at raising international competitiveness standards. Taking part in the workshop, joining the TAT programs and practicing the principles explored at the event would enhance the businesses’ market value and showcase their environmental friendliness, he said.
The event featured various sustainability-focused activities, including discussions on transitioning to sustainable tourism using the Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs) framework. Operators in the region shared their insights on sustainable business practices. The workshop also included a segment on greenhouse gas management in Phuket’s hotel industry and a mini-workshop for those interested in the CF-Hotels program.
The event also showcased environmental management innovations from local operators, such as used cooking oil recycling, adding value to plastic bottle caps and creating art from discarded materials.
The TAT Phuket Office hopes the event will drive sustainable business practices in Phuket, enhancing the province’s tourism potential on the international stage and attracting quality tourists who value sustainable travel, Mr Lertchai noted.