Airbnb and Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote nature based stays and community tourism
Airbnb and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have joined hands to promote sustainable travel in Thailand amongst international and domestic travellers, via the launch of a new booking page on Airbnb’s website and in the app, where travellers can book nature-based stays in seven key emerging provinces.
From organic farms to homestays and cabins in the countryside, the stays are selected by TAT to join its sustainable tourism promotion campaign.
The Airbnb-TAT collaboration is part of the TAT’s Green Newcomer campaign to drive awareness of the importance of green travel, in line with the Thai Government‘s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economic Model to promote green and community tourism in secondary cities. The campaign is championed by the Department of Cultural Promotion, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and Department of Environmental Quality Promotion.
The global rise of a more environmentally conscious traveller presents new opportunities for sustainable travel in Thailand, as more travellers look for ways to reconnect with nature and travel more sustainably. Notably, Airbnb-commissioned research by Economist Impact* across nine countries in the Asia-Pacific, found that more than 90 percent of Thais polled say that sustainable tourism is important to them, with almost two-thirds saying they will factor sustainable tourism practices into their holiday plans and are willing to pay a premium for sustainable tourism experiences.
Speaking of the collaboration, Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said, “We are grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Airbnb on the Green Newcomer campaign and to showcase eco-friendly tourism opportunities to Thai and international travellers. TAT believes that working alongside Airbnb will enable us to introduce unique and environmentally friendly accommodation to tourists and allow them to get closer to nature as well as conserve natural resources, enjoy Thailand’s historical and cultural heritage, and have a positive impact on the environment, economy and society.”
“Travellers are making a beeline for Thailand’s natural wonders, from beachside getaways to lush treehouses and eco-friendly earth huts. Through this collaboration with the TAT, we aim to shine a light on lesser known and equally beautiful destinations through the variety of unique nature-based stays available on Airbnb. These accredited stays offer guests a chance to enjoy another side of Thailand, where they can explore the country’s picturesque rivers, seas, national parks and local communities in an environmentally and socially conscious way,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan.