Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Underwater World
Tourism Authority of Thailand and its mission on Sustainable Tourism Thailand
As the world becomes more aware of the environmental crisis and the effects of climate change, the growing problem of plastic waste is one of the issues that people around the world are focusing on. With more than 13 million tons of plastic waste leaking into the sea each year, it is undeniable that some of the waste comes from the tourism industry and the consumption of employees in the organization. According to research by Lourens J.J. Meijer, Thailand generates 23 billion tons of marine waste per year, ranking 10th in the world, with 80% coming from land and coastal activities and 20% from sea activities. This is a threat that has a severe impact on the environment and is dangerous to the sea animal in Thai sea, both from being tied to their bodies, swallowing the waste and even digesting the sharp waste. Moreover, the marine debris can decompose into small microplastics that directly affect humans when consuming seafood.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), as the leader of Thailand's tourism strategy in creating valuable experiences and moving towards sustainability, has recognized this problem. Therefore, it has collaborated with "WISHULADA", Wischulada Puntarunwong, an artist who transforms waste or used materials to create artwork. In this work, waste from the tourism industry and used materials from the consumption of employees in the organization are brought back to be reused and recreated (Reuse-Upcycle), such as plastic water bottles, straws, snack wrappers, etc., under the named "Underwater World" which was inspired by a large aquarium of the Thai sea to reflect the deterioration of marine resources and open up another beautiful perspective if everyone joins forces to take care of it. In addition, it is also used as a medium to drive and create social change, create awareness, and create an impact to instill a sense of awareness to tourists to turn back and care for the environment through responsible tourism and income distribution from hiring local people to create works, which is in line with the policies and strategies of the TAT, leading to High Value Services & Standard by creating sustainable tourism standards, in line with the concept if the Sustainable Development Goals: SDGs of the United Nations (UN) to fit the context of Thailand in terms of tourism to the goal of Sustainable Tourism Goals: STGs. The work reflects value through sustainability in various dimensions as follows:
STGs Goal 8: Local Jobs and Economies: Create jobs, create careers, support local products and economy.
STG Goal 12: Promote Sustainable Tourism: Promote sustainable tourism in all sectors of tourism.
STG Goal 13: Climate Action: Aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the tourism sector and promote adaptation to climate change.
STG Goal 16: Safety For All: Considering safety in the tourism sector.
STG Goal 17: Partnership for STGs: Achieving STGs through multi-sectoral cooperation.
TAT would like to invite everyone to join in taking care of Thailand's ecosystem and push for positive change in a balanced way in all dimensions and create a valuable and sustainable tourism image so that Thailand is one of the Sustainable destinations for tourists.
Designer
- Miss Wishulada Panthanuvong