Whilst international travel has been placed on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s wildlife has been able to flourish in both land and seas with the absence of mass tourism. Thailand’s natural resources are some of the most beautiful and famed in the world, with thousands of species of flora and fauna native to its shores. Strategies to protect the ecosystem and wildlife for the long-term sustainability of the country are at the core of TAT’s commitment to responsible tourism, with the tourism board introducing the Responsible Thailand Awards in 2019.

“Thailand is one of the top tourist destination in the world and welcomes over 39 Million visitors annually, of which over 500,000 come from the MENA region,” said Pichaya Saisaengchan, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Dubai and the Middle East. “In order to preserve the natural habitat, wildlife and traditions of the Kingdom, it is our responsibility to ensure that we regulate the impact of mass tourism on the ecosystem and engage with our local partners to ensure responsible tourism that is sustainable”.

Thailand benefits from a number of esteemed wildlife initiatives and conservation programmes that contribute towards the greater good of Thailand, yet have been affected by the impact of COVID-19 with regards to funding and volunteering.

“The impact of the global pandemic has left a funding gap for the world’s wildlife initiatives, many of which rely on tourism for their revenue streams. We would like to support them by highlighting legitimate organisations and initiatives that are doing great work in the Kingdom, and how tourists can continue to support them whilst travel is restricted”, confirms Pichaya.

Engage with volunteering programs

Early in the year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand – in collaboration with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, as well as public and private sectors of the island of Ko Tao – launched ‘The One for Nature’ project to protect, rehabilitate, and conserve Thailand’s natural resources through responsible tourism. Travellers can keep up-to-date with volunteering initiatives taking place all over Thailand such as beach clean-ups on Phi Phi Island and street dog adoption programmes in Phuket. One of the main activities of the initiative is to construct artificial reefs for marine ecosystem rehabilitation by using marine-friendly materials to develop new marine-rich dive sites.

Sponsor an elephant

The current global travel ban has seen camps struggle to cover the costs of welfare for the elephants they look after due to the dependency of tourism income. Thai non–profit organization, Save Elephant Foundation, provides assistance to Thailand’s elephants through community outreach, rescue and rehabilitation programs, and educational ecotourism operations. The conservation of the elephants has even inspired Bangkok-based jewellery brand, PATTARAPHAN, to launch the ‘Tusk Earring Collection’ with 10% of the sales proceeds donated to support the elephants. Enthusiasts of Thailand’s elephants can lend their support through sponsorship programs, which help provide food, medical care and shelter.

Support thriving turtles with a stay in 2021

Turtles have made a comeback this year, as Thailand’s beaches remain deserted due to the countrywide lockdown. On the island of KohSamui, a giant mother turtle laid her eggs, which have been cared for by Banyan Tree Samui’s sustainability team and the local Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, protecting them from predators to ensure survival of the hatchlings. Around 200 green turtles hatched in April with exciting moments captured by the Banyan Tree team and shared on their social platforms. In addition, Thailand recorded the largest number of leatherback turtle nests in two decades on beaches in Phuket and PhangNga. Travellers can support the conservation of the Banyan Tree Samui’s thriving turtle population by booking now for stays in 2021.

For more information, visit www.TourismThailand.org