National Awards

Associate Professor Dr. Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp, Vice President of Walailak University (left) and Mr. Permsuk Sutchaphiwat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (right)

Associate Professor Dr. Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp, Vice President of Walailak University, revealed that the university's research project titled Development of Carbon Neutral Tourism in Krabi Province and Connected Areas has won the Silver Award at the Thailand Research Expo 2024. The project was honored with a trophy from the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, along with a cash prize of 70,000 baht and a certificate of achievement.

On August 30, Associate Professor Dr. Siwarit received the award from Mr. Permsuk Sutchaphiwat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre, CentralWorld, Bangkok.

 

Associate Professor Dr. Siwarit said that the research project was funded by the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC). It is being conducted in collaboration with various stakeholders in the tourism sector, including government agencies, private businesses, community tourism networks, tourism operators, as well as domestic and international tourists.

The project aims to assess the carbon footprint of tourism activities, analyze both domestic and international markets to develop products and services that support carbon neutral tourism, and establish a collaborative network to drive the Krabi Carbon Neutral Tourism 2040 initiative. This initiative aims to make Krabi the first province in Thailand to achieve this goal, with the participation of 22 national and local organizations focused on calculating, reducing, and offsetting the carbon footprint from tourism activities.

The research team from Walailak University’s Center of Excellence for Tourism Business Management and Creative Economy has applied their expertise to support tourism activities that reduce energy consumption and fossil fuel use. They provide opportunities for tourists to experience local lifestyles and wisdom, learn from nature, slow down, and live simply without impacting the environment.

Importantly, these efforts will generate sustainable income for local communities through various tourism activities, such as nature-based tourism, kayaking, boat trips, sightseeing, and cooking local dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

The project also promotes staying at environmentally friendly hotels, or "green hotels." It integrates various sectors such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation, identifying pain points and addressing them through pilot activities to offer more options for community-based tourism.

"Currently, carbon neutral tourism activities have been incorporated into travel programs and have garnered significant interest from European and Scandinavian tourists. Several major national organizations have also reached out to arrange carbon neutral tourism trips in Krabi Province to participate in the aforementioned activities," said Associate Professor Dr. Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp.

"We extend our deep gratitude to PMUC, Thailand Science Research and Innovation, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation for their support and funding of this research, which not only generates significant economic value but also effectively reduces environmental impact."

 



Photos credits: National Research Council of Thailand
News by Theeraphong Nooplod, Division of Corporate Communication
Translated by Settaboot Onphakdee, Division of Corporate Communication