RESPONSIBLE THAILAND AWARDS AND THE 2022 WINNERS ARE...

Each year, the Responsible Thailand Awards take place to shine a light on the organisations and companies that have gone above and beyond to contribute to the sustainability of Thailand. This year, the competition was as tough as ever, but with the help of our expert judges, we managed to whittle it down to six well-deserving winners. Put your hands together for the 2022 Responsible Thailand Award winners…

WINNER: Elephant Nature Park Elephant Nature Park provides a safe haven for more than 100 rescued elephants and was the first elephant sanctuary of its kind established in Thailand. Many of the elephants living here have been rescued from street begging, elephant riding, and shows where they often sustained both physical and psychological injuries. The park’s herds include blind, orphaned and senior elephants, who are now free to live peacefully in natural surroundings where they are loved and respected. ENP also supports the local community by creating jobs and purchasing locally grown produce.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“Apart from all the usual elephant activities, ENP also do rainforest restoration, have educational programmes, set up Eleflix during the pandemic, have four vets on site, have their Elephant Food Bank, have their Farm to Herd initiative, and they set up their Jumbo Express mobile clinic. A clear winner!”

RUNNER-UP: Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary

WINNER: Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise

Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise consists of 400 members within the Laem Sak sub-district of Krabi province, who live in 10 different villages. Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise’s objectives are to protect the marine and coastal resources in the Ao Luk area, to promote community tourism as a tool for local development in this multi-cultural community, and to provide local tourism services and foster cultural exchange. LSTCE actively engages the youth and locals to operate tours in the Ao Luk area and to increase income for the fishing families and farmers.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“Just what community tourism should be about, and it has had positive results: 12 microenterprises directly benefiting from community tourism, 400 community members positively impacted directly and more than 1,000 travellers visiting the community.”

RUNNER-UP: Mae Hong Son CBT Network

WINNER: The Tongsai Bay

The Tongsai Bay was the first five-star luxury hotel to be built on the island of Koh Samui. Since it was first established in 1987, The Tongsai Bay continues to underscore its commitment to the environment. Its policies include minimising waste, efforts to decrease energy use and a programme to engage and educate visitors and the local community. The Tongsai Bay has won many awards for its ability to implement innovative environmental practices.

The efforts to protect the natural environment can be experienced firsthand, and more than 60 species can be seen at the property, including monitor lizards, slow loris, butterflies, dolphins, fireflies and a rainbow’s spectrum of birds.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “An impressive Green Policy which encompasses so many aspects of sustainability. And we love the way guests are informed and educated on the issues, helping them to make the right choices.”

WINNER: The Sarojin

The Sarojin is a luxury boutique residence with 56 rooms and is located in peaceful Khao Lak, which is just one hour from Phuket. This secluded hideaway is well-known for its luxury offerings, impeccable service, fine dining, ‘Just for Two’ experiences and community involvement.

Its commitment to the environment is also hugely impressive and The Sarojin operates a number of sustainable and green initiatives to minimise the resort’s and guests’ impact on the environment. For example, the hotel works with local community authorities in supporting mangrove reforestation and commits to planting a minimum of one tree for every single booking made at The Sarojin.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“This hotel never rests on its laurels but constantly strives to improve its sustainability credentials, as their newly launched “One Booking, One Tree” initiative shows. Impressive stuff.”

WINNER: Big Blue Conservation

Big Blue Conservation is a marine conservation initiative on Koh Tao. As well as offering diving through its own diving school, it also works with other dive businesses to ensure the best practise around the island’s reefs. Guests can get involved with conservation courses, the monitoring of reef systems and organised beach clean-ups.

Big Blue Conservation contributes to global marine research and works to protect the environment around Koh Tao.

JUDGES COMMENTS:

“From working in partnership with other businesses to offering a marine biologist for a week-long course, Big Blue Conservation ticks so many boxes – vital reef conservation of course, but also community involvement, education of locals and visitors alike, and important marine research. A deserving winner.”

RUNNER-UP: Paresa Resort, Phuket

WINNER: Gentle Giants

Gentle Giants is a non-governmental organisation that was founded by two women and set up to protect elephants, support Thailand’s indigenous communities, help preserve the forests of Thailand and conserve the environment. Gentle Giants has been sponsoring riding camp elephants during the Covid19 pandemic. The NGO now has a new initiative to rewild former captive riding camp elephants in their native jungle by supporting the incomes of Karen hilltribe villagers (the people that rent them to the camps). Their goal is to raise awareness, to give elephants a better way of life and to help the mahouts (caretakers) find a new, profitable, ethical and humane way of living with elephants.

JUDGES COMMENTS:

“They’re launching a remarkable new scheme –this potentially could be the next level up from rescuing elephants by actually semirewilding them in a way that also benefits a marginalised community.”

Earlier this year, we asked Wanderlust readers and the UK travel trade to nominate the Thailand-based organisations and resorts that they felt were most deserving of recognition for their green initiatives and tireless efforts to promote sustainable tourism. The criteria for judging included the sustainability of each of the projects and organisations, their demonstrable successes, and the legacy of benefits for both Thailand and international visitors alike.

For more information, go to: responsiblethailand.co.uk