Mano Soler, Managing Director of Les Roches Global, said that as an educational institution training the next generation of leaders in the field, the school prioritizes developing a comprehensive curriculum that integrates and connects the concepts of innovation and sustainability. To this end, Soler said, Les Roches seeks to incorporate interesting courses and teaching methods, such as regular volunteering and implementing a car-sharing project within the school using a 100% electric vehicle model.
Thai Hotel Association president Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun stressed that amid the global tourism pandemic, countries are increasingly extending tourists’ stays to boost revenue.
“I believe that soft power emerges naturally and organically. Once it emerges, we must collectively promote it so that it is widely recognized and accepted internationally.”
Another key challenge for Thailand’s tourism industry is providing convenience to travelers. Leveraging innovation and technology can help improve traveler convenience, raise safety standards and make every journey easier.
Anh Thu Van Do, Lufthansa’s general manager for Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and the Mekong region, said there had been a significant increase in awareness among both operators and consumers when it came to sustainability in aviation and the planet.
“We believe that raising awareness about sustainability is essential for travellers’ understanding. Even airline customers are now interested in how much sustainability Lufthansa can achieve. Moreover, our customers are very willing to cooperate and participate in reducing carbon emissions when using air travel. We are seeing very positive signs regarding sustainability in Thailand,” the Lufthansa general manager said.
Jonathan Wigley, founder and CEO of Absolute Hotel Services Group, warns that the private sector alone cannot address all these issues and needs to work with governments to drive true sustainability. Hotels in the region are now visibly adapting to sustainability trends, as failure to address them in the next two to three years could have a negative impact on hotel operations.
“Unlike five years ago, when you were booking a hotel you probably wouldn’t have thought you had to look for a hotel with a sustainability reputation,” Wigley said.
