Latest news with #SustainableTourism
Malay Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Launches ‘Be My Guest' Campaign to Spotlight Thai Soft Power on Global Stage
Running from 26 June to 1 July, the campaign features two key initiatives—Soft Power Fam Trip and Rhythm of Thailand—uniting global creators to spotlight Thai culture, creativity, and sustainable tourism. BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 25 June 2025The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to launch the international Be My Guest campaign as part of the government's flagship Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025. Representing the Grand Celebration pillar of the initiative, the campaign is anchored by two core programmes – the Be My Guest Soft Power Fam Trip and Rhythm of Thailand. It aims to amplify Thailand's cultural influence, attract high-value tourism, and promote sustainable travel across emerging destinations.A key pillar of Thailand's Soft Power strategy, Be My Guest reflects the government's ambition to position the country as a premier Tourism Hub while creating economic value through cultural storytelling. The campaign merges heritage and innovation, pairing immersive Thai experiences with contemporary content creation to forge global awareness of Thai identity."This campaign is about more than tourism," said Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor. "We're inviting the world to see Thailand through the eyes of those who live it – artists, chefs, creators, and communities. Be My Guest allows our heritage to speak for itself, sparking admiration through real stories and shared moments. This is where Soft Power becomes true influence – by forging connections through culture, creativity, and authentic collaboration."Taking place from 26 June to 1 July 2025, Be My Guest activates both strategic storytelling and experiential Be My Guest Soft Power Fam Trip will welcome over 20 prominent international guests – celebrities, embassy-nominated guests, entrepreneurs, and influencers – to explore curated routes through three culturally rich provinces: Samut Songkhram, Sukhothai, and Chanthaburi. These routes are shaped by the Thailand in the Box concept, which offers a compact yet complete immersion into Thai food, history, craft, and lifestyle, reflecting the country's multi-dimensional the Rhythm of Thailand initiative will pair 10 global influencers from key markets such as the US, UK, France, China, Italy, and South Korea with 10 leading Thai creators. Each duo will embark on a mission-driven journey across 10 diverse destinations – including Sukhothai, Chanthaburi, Samut Songkhram, Phetchabun, Nan, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Phang-nga, Surat Thani, Rayong and Chanthaburi, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Nayok and Khao Yai, and Bangkok. Their content will explore distinct Thai Soft Power themes such as Muay Thai, wellness, gastronomy, fashion, and traditional approach represents a deliberate shift from one-sided reviews to meaningful co-creation – a storytelling model rooted in cultural immersion, mutual exchange, and shared perspectives. TAT will gradually unveil each duo's journey and destination on its official Facebook page: Amazing Thailand, allowing audiences to follow along in real time and engage with the stories as they Nithee Seeprae, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said: "We didn't just bring influencers to Thailand – we gave them purpose. By designing meaningful collaborations and routes rooted in local identity, we're helping them tell fresh stories that resonate across cultures. This is content creation with intent, spotlighting the charm of Thailand's lesser-known gems and redefining how the world experiences our country."A major highlight of the campaign will be the Amazing Thailand Saneh Thai Gala Night, scheduled for 30 June 2025 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok. As the embodiment of the Grand Invitation concept—one of the five pillars of the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025—the event will welcome distinguished guests to experience the very best of Thai culture in one unforgettable gala will feature the "5 Must Do in Thailand", offering immersive encounters with Thai cuisine (Must Taste), traditional craftsmanship (Must Try), cultural heritage (Must Seek), iconic locally made products (Must Buy), and lesser-known destinations (Must See). Serving as the campaign's grand finale, the event will be a vibrant celebration of Thailand's cultural richness in all its rich media content, live coverage, and extensive digital promotion, TAT expects the Be My Guest campaign to spark widespread engagement both online and offline. The campaign is designed to build trust in Thailand's tourism brand while expanding its cultural reach #TAT The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Times of Oman
23-06-2025
- Times of Oman
South Al Batinah Design Hackathon kicks off
Al Rustaq: The South Al Batinah Design Hackathon, organised by the Governorate's Office in collaboration with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Al Musannah, launched at the Office of Wali of Al Rustaq on Monday. Held under the theme 'An Urban Design with the Identity of Place," the two-day event aims to design and develop an integrated tourism project for 'Khor Al Qareem" in the Wilayat of Al Musannah, combining the area's environmental and cultural identity with modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The hackathon aligns with national approach in sustainable tourism and smart urban development, supporting the goals of Oman Vision 2040. Over 125 students from 25 educational institutions—both within the Sultanate of Oman and abroad—are participating in multidisciplinary teams specializing in urban planning, architecture, civil engineering, and interior design. The program includes training workshops and consultative sessions supervised by experts to enhance participants' skills and refine their design ideas. On the final day, a judging panel will select six projects for evaluation based on criteria such as innovation, sustainability, environmental and cultural integration, space efficiency, and AI utilisation. The top three winning teams will receive valuable prizes, with the first-place project being implemented in Khor Al Qareem. The rights to the three shortlisted projects will belong to the South Al Batinah Governorate, which reserves the right to execute or modify them for public benefit. This hackathon serves as a platform to empower Omani youth, showcase their creative talents in design and urban planning, and engage them in developing sustainable urban and tourism environments that reflect community aspirations and cope with the national principles of the sustainable development.
Zawya
11-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Philippines and Angola Explore Tourism Cooperation in First Bilateral Business Forum
The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon, together with the PH-Angola Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIAF), and in coordination with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT), Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Angola's Ministry of Tourism, and AIPEX, successfully held the First Philippines-Angola Business Forum on Sustainable Tourism on 30 May 2025 via virtual platform. The Forum was held at the Philippine Honorary Consulate General's Office in Dipanda, Angola, under the leadership of Honorary Consul General Etienne Brechet, with Honorary Consul Megan Brechet-Amamou as Forum host. With the theme 'Sustainable Tourism: A Pathway to Economic and Cultural Development,' the Forum brought together government officials, private sector representatives, and tourism stakeholders from both countries to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation, tourism development, and sustainable investment, with particular focus on promoting Namibe Province as an emerging tourism destination. The Philippine side shared its experiences in tourism policy development, post pandemic recovery efforts, sustainable tourism strategies, and private sector engagement. Presentations covered the Philippines' legal and institutional frameworks, ecotourism strategies, tourism infrastructure investments, and approaches to ensuring that tourism development preserves cultural heritage and ecological integrity. Angola's delegation, led by Angola's Ministry of Tourism and CCIAF, presented the tourism potential of Namibe province, identifying opportunities in eco- and adventure tourism, resort development, and cultural tourism, and expressed keen interest in building business partnerships with Philippine stakeholders. The Angolan side also conveyed their utmost appreciation for the comprehensive presentations provided by the Philippine speakers and expressed a strong desire to learn from the Philippines' expertise in sustainable tourism development. The Forum concluded with mutual interest in pursuing reciprocal business missions, tourism training exchanges, and joint promotional efforts to advance sustainable tourism cooperation between the Philippines and Angola. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines.
Coin Geek
04-06-2025
- Business
- Coin Geek
Thailand revives tourism push; Lagos trials AI
Homepage > News > Business > Thailand revives tourism push; Lagos trials AI Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Thai authorities have launched a five-year plan to transform the local tourism ecosystem and strengthen its resilience to global economic uncertainties. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will spearhead the push to improve the industry, keeping in mind changing tourist behavior and emerging technology trends. The local tourism industry is keen on pivoting toward becoming a Sustainable Tourism Hub by 2028 while achieving additional milestones by the end of the decade. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong said the five-year tourism transformation plan comprises five core strategies. Firstly, the ministry leans on new metrics to measure quality and sustainability rather than a narrow focus on tourist arrival figures. Secondly, the five-year plan will focus on expanding tourism to secondary cities and promoting local economies rather than the primary cities of Bali and Bangkok. Authorities say the plan will broaden its reach beyond China to new markets like the Middle East and Latin America. The fourth arm of the ambitious plan will see local authorities introduce crisis preparedness systems to protect the tourist industry from unforeseen circumstances. Authorities will also roll out Tourist Risk Match Maps while offering visitors a Digital Health Passport in line with global health standards. At the heart of the plan is integrating emerging technologies into the local tourism industry. Authorities are mulling the widespread application of artificial intelligence (AI) among industry service providers. To ease the integration, authorities will augment plans by upskilling the local workforce and interfacing with the legislative arm of government for tech-friendly regulations. Furthermore, there is an additional plan to leverage social media and launch smart platforms for tourists to simplify decision-making and increase safety and transparency standards. 'Everyone is now a broadcaster, and every opinion on social media can impact the national image,' said Sorawong. 'We must collectively build broad-based confidence.' The five-year plan is not Thailand's first attempt at improving the tourist experience. Earlier this year, authorities allowed visitors to the country to use digital currencies to pay for goods and services, testing the waters in Phuket while eyeing a nationwide rollout. Previously, the country soldiered toward a $14-billion digital money handout initiative to improve the local economy. Keen to improve digitalization, the country lifted restrictions on retail investment in digital assets while making progress with its retail central bank digital currency. Lagos integrates AI Elsewhere, Nigeria's most populous state and economic nerve center, Lagos, has hinted at plans to deploy AI to improve the state of drivers' training. State administrators met with high-ranking executives of the AI Driving Metaverse Group to explore the viability of AI-based training. The AI Driving Metaverse Group will offer AI-based simulators to driving schools in Lagos to overhaul traditional learning methods. In addition to learning simulators, the Group will offer AI-powered assessments and feedback to learners. AI Driving Metaverse Group CEO Daniel Avdagic disclosed that the suite of AI learning offerings extends to drivers with previously issued licenses, urging retraining with emerging technologies. If parties ink a deal, AI Driving Metaverse Group's AI-based learning solutions will be integrated into the Lagos State Drivers' Institute (LASDRI). The institute's attendees will use the firm's Driving Metaverse Simulator to test skills and personality in addition to real-world driving tests. The AI-based simulator will offer the perks of personalized training for learners while allowing instructors to simulate realistic learning conditions. Besides being a cost-effective alternative, driving school candidates can receive real-time feedback and the perk of zero risk for drivers and instructors. Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi lauded the initiative for its novel use of AI in real-world applications. Osiyemi expressed confidence that the Lagos State government will reach a deal with the AI Driving Metaverse Simulator, adding that LASDRI's training programs need to keep pace with digitalization. Furthermore, the Commissioner adds that a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is the best route to integrate the AI Driving Metaverse Simulator into LASDRI. Currently, the state government will address all issues related to data privacy and the safety of AI training models for drivers. Keen to maintain its status as Nigeria's economic hub, Lagos is setting the pace for emerging technologies for public services. Last year, the state unveiled a blockchain-based solution to stifle the occurrence of land fraud to complement a real estate tokenization plan. Lagos is angling to benefit from Nigeria's plan to train 1,000 youth in blockchain and AI as the country warmly embraces digitalization. Furthermore, Nigeria and the United States have inked a bilateral arrangement to explore a collaboration on AI and the growth of digital economies on both sides of the Atlantic. In order for artificial intelligence (AI) to work right within the law and thrive in the face of growing challenges, it needs to integrate an enterprise blockchain system that ensures data input quality and ownership—allowing it to keep data safe while also guaranteeing the immutability of data. Check out CoinGeek's coverage on this emerging tech to learn more why Enterprise blockchain will be the backbone of AI . Watch: Tech redefines how things are done—Africa is here for it title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Agoda and GSTC Launch Free Digital Training Platform to Empower Hoteliers with Sustainability Skills
SINGAPORE, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda, in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), has launched the Sustainable Tourism Academy, a free digital training platform designed to equip current and aspiring hoteliers with practical sustainability tools and knowledge. The initiative aims to address the growing demand for sustainable accommodation options from increasingly sustainability-conscious travelers while driving transformation within Asia's hotel industry. The Sustainable Tourism Academy offers localized and tailored content to tackle the unique sustainability challenges faced by the region. The platform features interactive learning exercises, case studies, assessments, and discussion boards to create an engaging and comprehensive learning experience. Learning modules focus on how to attract sustainability-minded guests and develop sustainability strategies with insights and case studies from hotels across Asia. Available in English, Vietnamese, Malay, Thai, and Indonesian, the platform ensures accessibility for a broad audience of hospitality professionals across Southeast Asia. The self-paced platform allows participants to complete training modules at their convenience, making it ideal for busy hospitality professionals. Upon successful completion, participants receive a completion certificate jointly issued by GSTC and Agoda, formally recognizing their enhanced sustainability knowledge and skills. Damien Pfirsch, Chief Commercial Officer at Agoda, shared, "Through the Sustainable Tourism Academy, Agoda and GSTC are equipping hoteliers to drive meaningful change within the industry. Agoda is committed to scaling up this initiative, and by offering this platform free of charge, we're making sustainability education accessible, practical, and impactful for everyone in the Asian hospitality sector, from kitchen staff to general managers." Randy Durband, Chief Executive Officer at Global Sustainable Tourism Council, added, "By providing free access to practical, localized sustainability training, GSTC and Agoda are empowering hoteliers to take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to making sustainability not just an aspiration, but a standard practice across the region." The training content is built around the GSTC Standard, the global standard for sustainability in travel and tourism. It covers key areas such as sustainable management, socioeconomic impacts, cultural impacts, and environmental impacts. Developed by Agoda's Sustainability Team and GSTC and its trainers, including CB Ramkumar (Vice Chair, GSTC), Mochamad Nalendra (CEO, Wise Steps Consulting), and Catherine Germier-Hamel (CEO, Destination Mekong), the content combines diverse expertise and real-world insights from leaders in the field. The platform was officially launched on Friday, 30 May, at an event in Bangkok, Thailand, which brought together over a hundred Southeast Asian hospitality professionals for in-depth conversations on emerging trends and challenges in sustainable tourism. The Sustainable Tourism Academy is free of charge and accessible to everyone, underscoring Agoda and GSTC's commitment to fostering a more sustainable future for all in travel. To explore the platform, visit --- ENDS --- View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Agoda
