Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat has partnered with 22 government agencies and tourism entrepreneurs to establish Krabi as Thailand’s first carbon-neutral tourist province by 2040.
The university, along with 10 national-level agencies and 12 tourism operators in Krabi, aims to promote sustainable tourism and the creative economy in the resort province on Thailand’s west coast. The collaboration also seeks to address climate change issues in Krabi, which is vulnerable to the impact of climate-related phenomena in the Andaman Sea.
The tourism industry in Thailand accounts for approximately 8% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from activities such as transportation, hotel and restaurant operations, and souvenir manufacturing. Entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, in return, have a responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint and explore offsetting measures.
To support these efforts, Walailak University, through its Center of Excellence for Tourism Business Management and Creative Economy, is working with its partners to establish a knowledge center to provide education and support for entrepreneurs, facilitating the implementation of zero-carbon policies. Key initiatives include enhancing transportation and hotel administration to minimize greenhouse gas emissions by adopting renewable energy and modern technology.
Krabi, known for its natural beauty and hospitality, was recognized as Thailand’s Most Welcoming City in the Traveller Review Awards 2022 organized by Booking.com. This accolade was based on 1.3 million travelers’ reviews of 12,969 hotels across Thailand. Other Thai cities that ranked high on the “most welcoming” list were Trat, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Nakhon Ratchasima, respectively. (NNT)
