Three tourism sites in Thailand have been listed among the Top 100 Green Destinations 2022 by a leading environmental foundation, said government spokesman Anucha Buraphachaisri.
Koh Mak in Trat, Mae Hong Son's Ban Huay Pu Keng, and Sapphaya in Chai Nat have all won recognition from the Green Destinations Foundation and its partners as being among their Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories 2022.
Mr Anucha said such recognition reflects the government's efforts to promote sustainable tourism via Thailand's Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta), which recently received a certificate from the World Tourism Organization in Athens, Greece.
Dasta nominated the three tourist sites for consideration and submitted reports in accordance with the Green Destinations Standard, Mr Anucha said.
Koh Mak, a tourism island located in the eastern province of Trat, was chosen by Dasta to be the country's first low-carbon destination with support and cooperation from the local community.
Digital technologies and advanced research in the field of carbon sequestration were deployed in the process to make the island achieve its goal.
Ban Huay Pu Keng and Sapphaya were recognised for good practices in community-based tourism where locals received capacity-building training and joined hands in promoting environmentally friendly practices among residents and visitors.
"The prime minister wants to see more sustainable tourism materialise. The awards not only promote tourist destinations in Thailand but also stresses that Thailand takes environmental issues seriously," Mr Anucha said.
Other green destinations in Southeast Asia on the list were Sentosa Island in Singapore, Bago City, Club Paradise Palawan and Sagay City in the Philippines.