The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC) to drive sustainable tourism in Thailand towards global standards. Since 2022, they have announced their joint commitment, continuing into 2023 with the launch of the AWC Stay to Sustain project, inviting travelers from around the world to be part of creating sustainability in Thailand. Recently, AWC made history for Thailand on the global stage by achieving the highest sustainability score, ranking number one in the hotel, resort, and cruise industry, and also being in the Top 1% (Gold Class) according to S&P Global's assessment, officially announced in The Sustainability Yearbook 2024. This marks a significant promotion of TAT's strategy to create sustainable tourism and enhances the reputation of Thailand's tourism industry as a leading player that has achieved top rankings in sustainability alongside global organizations. It serves as a testament to their commitment to conducting business sustainably under the mission of 'Creating a Better Future' within the framework of sustainable development known as 3BETTERs: BETTER PLANET, BETTER PEOPLE, and BETTER PROSPERITY, which considers all stakeholders and drives Thailand towards becoming a global sustainable tourism destination.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), stated, “TAT is very pleased that our policy has strategically driven Thailand towards a sustainable tourism destination to enhance the competitiveness of the Thai tourism sector and attract tourists who prioritize sustainable tourism from around the world. Together with AWC's commitment to creating a global sustainable destination, we have seen significant success today with the number one ranking in the industry, setting a good example for operators and the Thai tourism industry on the global stage. This firmly establishes Thailand as a responsible tourism destination that considers economic, social, and environmental aspects, aligning with TAT's operational guidelines that support tourism operators in the country to prioritize sustainable tourism through the STAR program (Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating) with the goal of achieving all 17 Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs) to drive other tourism operators in the country to work together towards sustainability in Thailand's tourism industry.”

Mr. Wallapa Traisorat, CEO and Managing Director of Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), expressed, “AWC is extremely proud to be ranked number one in the industry by S&P Global after being selected as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) 2023 in the Emerging Markets category last year. This achievement is a result of collaborative efforts from both public and private sector partners, as well as global partners in the tourism industry, working together to drive sustainable tourism for Thailand in various dimensions, creating long-term value for all stakeholders. AWC has adopted TAT's STAR sustainability standards and S&P's global standards to implement sustainability across all dimensions of ESG, including environmental, social, and governance aspects, by creating processes and projects for sustainability both within the organization and in collaboration with partners who share a common vision to collectively build sustainability for Thailand towards a better future.”

“AWC would like to thank TAT as a key public agency supporting Thai operators in sustainable tourism, aligning with AWC's operational guidelines. To date, all 25 establishments in our group have met the STAR criteria and received the 'Sustainable Star' certificate from TAT. We also thank all parties involved, including partners, management, and employees, who are crucial in uniting efforts towards a common goal of driving sustainability in the real estate and tourism industries, supporting Thailand in becoming a global sustainable tourism destination.”

AWC has implemented various sustainability projects in 2023, such as collaborating with TAT and the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage to create new standards for sustainable tourism by launching the “AWC Stay to Sustain” project. For every night stayed at AWC hotels, guests will contribute to community forest restoration and promote income for communities to improve their livelihoods. Additionally, AWC has partnered with leading banks to sign sustainable loans, aiming to achieve 100% of long-term loan amounts linked to sustainability to create a sustainable future for Thailand.

Furthermore, AWC promotes sustainable tourism through real estate projects, such as the opening of the “INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit” hotel, which has been certified under the EDGE standard for reducing energy and water usage by 31% and reducing energy consumption for building materials by 38%, while prioritizing environmentally friendly appliances in guest rooms. AWC also supports Chiang Mai in becoming a global sustainable tourism destination by opening the “InterContinental Chiang Mai Mae Ping Hotel,” which is the first in Chiang Mai to receive LEED certification for building design and construction and the WELL Health-Safety Rating.

The Sustainability Yearbook is an annual report assessing the effectiveness of business operations according to sustainable development guidelines, recognized and used as a reference by investment institutions and funds worldwide for investment considerations to measure and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of business operations across all dimensions of sustainable development, including economic, social, and environmental aspects. Over 9,400 leading companies worldwide were invited to participate in the assessment.