Striking a balance between tourism and sustainability

Jan 25, 2023

I had the privilege of sailing around the Andaman Sea in Southern Thailand over the New Year and as always, I was fortunate to see spectacular scenery. Thailand really is a unique destination for lovers of beaches, sand and sun – and even more so for visitors who want to explore and enjoy the beauty of abundant tropical islands.

There is something for everyone seeking a beach holiday in the kingdom – busy coastal resorts with funky clubs directly on the sands and famous DJs spinning the latest tunes; party islands where life starts after sunset; restaurants for every budget; extensive water sports; sophisticated spas to enjoy a myriad of treatments; shopping streets and independent markets; and cultural pursuits, such as exploration of temples or indigenous island communities.

The other side of Thailand, and the one I personally love the most offers secluded beaches on pristine islands, azure blue waters, national parks and resorts in the middle of nowhere, ranging from comfortable two-star to five-star super luxury.

Thailand may not yet be the most sustainable country in the world, but authorities at both national and local levels are undertaking distinct efforts to maintain the natural beauty of the country’s natural resources.

Most of the national parks have control measures in place, such as designated areas for boats to moor and swimmers to swim. Some beaches, such as Maya Bay on Phi Phi Island, are off limits to boat operators who want to offload their passengers directly in the vicinity. Visitors have to disembark in another bay and undertake a five-minute shaded walk through the jungle to reach this idyllic site – immortalised in the Hollywood movie The Beach. Resorts are also not allowed to operate in national parks, at least not officially.

With China reopening its border for its citizens to travel overseas, discussions about mass tourism and a potential overrun of tourist destinations in Thailand have started. Thailand welcomed 13 million Chinese visitors in 2019, almost a third of all arrivals, and there is a fear that the entire country will be overrun by Chinese tourists.

In total, Thailand welcomed 40 million visitors in 2019 – the year before pandemic-enforced border controls were introduced worldwide. The Thai government has set a target of 25 million visitors for 2023. Surely there will not be an overrun of Chinese visitors this year, but the long-term plan will be to grow this number again.

Whereas I am strongly in favour for the protection of the environment, nature, villages and the underprivileged, I also believe it is the right of every country to grow their visitor numbers, and improve their economy and the lives of their people.

The key point is to do it in a way that strikes a balance between tourism and sustainability. This is a topic that can be covered in a future CEO story when new tourism data and evidence of how visitors have been managed is to hand.

Whichever way arrivals to Thailand develop, I am convinced tourists will continue to enjoy exceptional holiday experiences – be it lively beaches packed with party revellers, or seclusion and natural beauty for those seeking solitude.

There are few countries in the world that offer such good value for money as Thailand does at the present, particularly when the tourism sector is getting back on its feet after COVID-19 with visitor numbers way below pre-pandemic levels.

Wherever you may roam in 2023, enjoy happy trails!

INCLUSIONS

A full day tour with a professional English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request and may be subject to supplementary charges
Transportation by car / mini-van with professional driver.
All entrance and donation fees for visits as mentioned in the description.
All applicable taxes and service charges
Lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)

EXCLUSIONS

Tours, inclusions of any kind and other services that are not outlined in the tour description
Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated
Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
Compulsory Christmas, country-specific festival and/or New Year dinner at included hotels
Single supplement charges for single travelers, where applicable
Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
Supplements for transfers for customers arriving or departing from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
Hotel expenses of a personal nature, should an overnight be included: this includes mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program
Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)

GOOD TO KNOW

This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply.
Transfers are only operated within the downtown Chiang Mai areas and restricted to main hotels only.
Regions outside the central business district such as Mae Rim, Hang Dong, Doi Saket, Mae Taeng and Chiang Mai International Airport are excluded and supplementary charges apply.
We regret that are unable to provide pick-up and drop-off transfer services from and to apartment complexes, local guest houses or private apartments. We advise you kindly to head on your own arrangement to the nearest hotel inside the downtown Chiang Mai area.
We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant.
Due to the nature of this tour, we regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Guests are advised that some walking is required during this excursion; we always ensure that we take the most comfortable ways from the entrance of the sight to the sight itself.
The road up and down Doi Angkhang is not suitable for large coaches; for group travel, note that the group needs to be split up into mini-vans. We always will make efforts to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation.
For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
Due to the absence of ATM machines and credit cards payment portals, we highly recommend to bring sufficient cash with you. Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the excursion in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests.
It is recommendable to bring a jacket / sweater with you as temperatures on Doi Angkhang are often much cooler than around Chiang Mai.
It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package.
Any changes in accommodation outside 48 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 48 hours may be on request.

Striking a balance between tourism and sustainability

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