Today’s travelers are searching for local insights and real life experiences tailored to their interests. They are well  informed about the negative impacts of tourism, and hope to travel with companies which put the welfare of people and planet at the heart of their programs.

The Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) has been working towards a sustainable Thai tourism industry for over a decade.  TEATA’s  members – specialist Thai ecotourism  operators – are committed to preserved  the best aspects of Thai tourism, such as warm hospitality and attention to detail, while harnessing our unrivaled local knowledge to craft better experiences for guests, local communities and the natural world which we share.

Over the past 18 months, TEATA and our partners, the Greenleaf Foundation, the Thailand Community Based Tourism Institute (CBT-I) and the European Center for Eco and Agro Tourism (ECEAT) have worked with five Thai tourism supplier groups: ecotour operators, professional tour guides, SME hotels and restaurants, and local Thai communities  which have developed their own Community Based Tourism (CBI) programs. First, our team assisted each supplier group to develop their own sustainability standards.  Next, we worked to develop 20 “sustainable tourism routes,” giving guests opportunities to stay in green hotels, enjoy ecotourism activities, and share culture and nature with local Thai people.

These activities took place within the EU funded “ Corporate Social Responsibility and Market  Access Partnerships Project for Thai Sustainable Tourism Supply Chains.”  The CSR-MAP project aimed to move Thai-EU tourism supply chains towards greater sustainability, and develop innovative products for European  and of course worldwide tourists looking for an inspiring , responsible holiday. The initiative demonstrated the diversity and attractiveness of Thai sustainable tourism products, and showed what is possible when suppliers work together towards a common goal.