Tag: Culture

The "Thailand Good Travel" mark is a new standard benchmarked against Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria that the government hopes will propel the country into the world's Top 100 sustainable destinations.
News

Thailand Launches “Good Travel” Mark as Nation Targets Top 100 Global Sustainability Ranking

Ambitious 2030 roadmap positions Thailand as sustainable tourism leader whilst new certification standard aims to reshape Southeast Asian travel industry The Thailand Good Travel mark combines traditional Thai symbolism with international sustainability standards Thailand has just declared war on greenwashing! The Department of Tourism unveiled its Thailand Green Tourism Plan 2030 this week, launching a

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October 5, 2025
View from a mountain top showing Lake Toba at sunrise
Eco-tourism

Concerned About Over-Tourism in Bali. These Spectacular Indonesian Alternatives Will Change Your Mind – What the BBC Forgot to Tell You

Discover pristine islands, ancient cultures, and world-class diving beyond the crowds Bali welcomed a staggering 6.3 million international visitors in 2024—nearly double its local population of 4.2 million. The BBC’s recent investigation revealed the stark consequences: beaches littered with plastic waste, traffic gridlock, and tourists posting “expectations vs reality” disappointments on social media. The tragic

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September 29, 2025
the sun sets behind a dramatic mountainous backdrop with two hot air balloons silhouetted against a golden sky
News

How New Green Financing Is Transforming Travel in Laos

Why this TUI-backed programme could reshape responsible tourism in Laos Laos has always held something special for me – genuine hospitality, preserved culture, and landscapes that take your breath away. It also provides amazing value. Having visited many times over the last two decades, I’ve watched this country maintain its authentic character while neighbours grappled

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September 22, 2025
image of a hiking trail through a dense Malaysian jungle setting with sunlight catching the fauna through the forest canopy
Destinations

How Southeast Asia’s Safest Country Is Leading the Sustainable Adventure Tourism Movement

Malaysia claims nine of Southeast Asia’s top ten hiking trails whilst pioneering eco-friendly adventure tourism that benefits local communities Malaysia has emerged as Southeast Asia’s unexpected champion of sustainable hiking tourism, claiming nine of the ten best hiking trails in the region and recently being named the safest country in Asia for travellers seeking peace

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September 6, 2025
Eco-tourism

From Banana Pancake Trails to Bamboo Villas: How Southeast Asia Mastered Sustainable Luxury Tourism

The journey from backpacker guesthouses to eco-luxury resorts shows how a region transformed tourism whilst learning to balance profits with environmental preservation I still remember my first glimpse of Phuket in the early 2000s. Even then, it felt crowded compared to what my Thai friend described from the 1980s – endless stretches of genuinely deserted

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August 30, 2025
a drone shot of house boats surrounded by lush vegetation
Eco-tourism

Thailand’s Sustainable Luxury Revolution: How the Land of Smiles is Redefining Premium Travel by 2030

I’ve just spent the past month researching Thailand’s tourism transformation, and what I’ve discovered has completely shifted my perspective on luxury travel in Southeast Asia. The Kingdom isn’t just paying lip service to sustainability – they’re orchestrating the most comprehensive green tourism revolution I’ve witnessed in two decades of travel writing. While most destinations still

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August 11, 2025
drone shot of Maya Bay in Thailand taken from the beach and showing the turquoise waters with a few boats and tourists on sunbeds
Eco-tourism

Sustainable Island Tourism in Southeast Asia: A Guide to Eco-Resorts and Responsible Travel

Discover how responsible tourism transforms Southeast Asia’s most pristine islands from environmental threats into conservation success stories, whilst delivering luxury experiences through verified eco-resorts and community-based operators. The Paradise We Nearly Lost Standing on what was once Thailand’s pristine Maya Bay in 2017, watching motorboats laden with 6,000 daily visitors dropping anchor directly onto centuries-old

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July 22, 2025
nd them - source: Wikimedia Commons or Unsplash, search "Luang Prabang alms giving ceremony" - ALT text: Buddhist monks in orange robes walking in single file to receive morning alms from kneeling local women in Luang Prabang
Culture

Southeast Asian Cultural Etiquette: A Complete Guide to Respectful Travel

Eleven countries, one region, and the customs that actually matter once you’re on the ground I once watched a local outside Bangkok’s Grand Palace tap a traveller’s arm, not to scold them, but to point gently at their bare shoulders before they reached the gate. They hadn’t known. The local wasn’t annoyed, just letting them

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June 29, 2025
Image shows Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Twin Tower dominating the skyline at dusk
Destinations

Is Malaysia Southeast Asia’s Best-Kept Secret?

Discover Malaysia’s perfect blend of cultural heritage and sustainable luxury. From Kuala Lumpur’s iconic skyline to Penang’s UNESCO streets – the ultimate guide to responsible luxury travel. After exploring Southeast Asia’s capitals for almost three decades, I’ve rarely encountered a destination that balances cultural authenticity with genuine luxury as masterfully as Malaysia. From the colonial

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June 28, 2025
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