AWC collaborates with TAT and Mae Fah Luang Foundation to promote sustainable tourism, inviting travelers to participate in the 'AWC Stay to Sustain' project to conserve and restore trees in community forests, enhance biodiversity in ecosystems, absorb carbon dioxide, and increase oxygen production in the air. This initiative also aims to generate income for local communities to support the country's long-term economy, reinforcing AWC's commitment to sustainable business practices under its 3BETTERS strategy: BETTER PLANET, BETTER PEOPLE, and BETTER PROSPERITY. This aligns with TAT's goal of promoting low-carbon tourism and driving Thailand to become a global leader in sustainable tourism, sharing values with travelers from around the world.

Na-Wallapa Traisorat, CEO and Managing Director of Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC) stated that the 'AWC Stay to Sustain' project will serve as a model for sustainable tourism in Thailand. AWC has integrated TAT's sustainable tourism policies with its partner hotel brands managing 22 hotels across the country to jointly conserve the environment, reduce global warming, and create sustainable tourism in Thailand.

“Today, a new generation of international travelers is increasingly concerned about environmentally friendly tourism, especially among Chinese customers who prioritize safety, products and services, and new travel experiences that benefit local communities while caring for the environment. In AWC's customer base, about 11% are international travelers from China,”

The 'AWC Stay to Sustain' project aims to create sustainable travel experiences for hotel guests, reduce environmental impacts, and assist local communities in tourist areas. Starting from October 10, 2023, marking AWC's 4th anniversary on the stock market, guests staying at AWC hotels will contribute to the conservation and restoration of community forests in Thailand. For every night stayed, AWC will care for one tree, supporting the Mae Fah Luang Foundation's projects and preserving forest areas in the long term, while promoting income for communities that manage the forests. The goal is to conserve and restore approximately 500,000 trees each year over an area of more than 5,000 rai for up to 9 years, with the forests absorbing about 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide annually to restore green spaces and biodiversity, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030 while providing sustainable income for the communities managing the forests.

AWC will select community forests for conservation based on two main factors: the forest's capacity to absorb carbon and the community's readiness to manage the forest, reducing management risks. To date, approximately 140,000 rai of forest have already been restored, with ongoing efforts.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expressed that TAT is very pleased that AWC, with its diverse portfolio of hotels in Bangkok and major cities nationwide, has initiated this sustainability project as a model for Thailand's tourism industry through the 'AWC Stay to Sustain' project, along with various activities that provide unique experiences for tourists. This not only leaves a lasting impression of traveling in Thailand but also contributes to environmental and social sustainability in the country. TAT supports operators in moving towards carbon-neutral tourism in line with the BCG Model development plan and encourages operators to establish clear and internationally recognized performance metrics, aligning with TAT's strategic plan to drive Thailand towards becoming a global sustainable tourism destination, enhancing the competitiveness of Thailand's tourism sector and attracting an increasing number of tourists who prioritize sustainable tourism.

Mom Luang Dispanadda Diskul, CEO of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage stated that the Mae Fah Luang Foundation has been carrying on the royal initiative of “Planting Trees, Nurturing People” for nearly four decades. We are very pleased to join forces with AWC to continue the mission of restoring ecosystems and conserving natural resources, thus expanding our experience to enhance the quality of life for communities in the forest while addressing environmental issues in Thailand and the world simultaneously.

Creating and conserving forests is a crucial factor in achieving carbon neutrality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at both the organizational and national levels, as well as mitigating global warming and reducing the incidence of forest fires. The foundation will use the income generated from the 'AWC Stay to Sustain' project to develop a carbon credit assessment system and establish two types of community funds: a forest care fund and a sustainable community development fund to generate income for communities while protecting the country's biodiversity.

Additionally, AWC will collaborate with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation to support community income generation by sourcing handicraft products from communities nationwide to decorate hotels under leading global partner brands within the AWC group, as well as using quality agricultural products from communities to prepare and serve meals to guests staying at the hotels, providing opportunities for Thai people to showcase their work to tourists from around the world while supporting sustainability for a stable and prosperous society through equitable economic growth.

AWC also aims for all hotels and shopping centers in its group to receive the STAR “Sustainable Star” certification from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, in line with TAT's STGs (Sustainable Tourism Goals), reflecting AWC's commitment to sustainable development across all dimensions of its business with responsibility towards the economy, society, environment, and good governance, while creating long-term sustainable value for stakeholders throughout the value chain and driving Thailand towards becoming a global sustainable tourism destination.