As the sustainability conversation matures, so must the travel sector

At the fourth PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism) conference on 28 October, regional speakers agreed that as the sustainability conversation matures, post-Covid is the best time to "get sustainable travel right".

The virtual event, co-organised by the Phuket Hotels Association, Greenview and C9 Hotelworks, saw more than 1,000 delegates tuning in as industry experts sounded the call for resort destinations to embrace a more meaningful and responsible way of operating in the post-pandemic era.

“It’s not just about protecting endangered species or preventing deforestation; it’s about showing people how beautiful the environment is around them," said Ho Kwon Ping, Founder and Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and Laguna Resorts & Hotels. "Because if you embrace the environment, then you protect the environment, you beautify the environment, you appreciate and understand the environment.”

He also highlighted the heightened awareness of responsible travel globally, indicating that the travel industry would start to "morph" towards a more meaningful existence with a stronger human element.

“During the global pandemic when people couldn’t travel, we began to realise that we’re actually very social animals. We need the human touch, we need friends to visit, we need to go out with our loved one. So I think that in future we’re going to see a lot more meaningful, purposeful and experiential travel, and that to me is very encouraging,” said Ho.

Aliza Napartivaumnuay, Co-Founder & CEO of Socialgiver — a pioneering lifestyle platform that allows customers to support good causes when they travel — added that now is the time to convert, instead of growing the existing pool of eco-conscious travellers.

“It’s not just about speaking to people who already care about social and environmental issues, but converting people and then slowly engaging them in more social projects...[towards] creating a net positive impact."

Both Ho and Napartivaumnuay's views echo the conversations at last year's PHIST conference, where industry players discussed how to manage the overlap between political will and sustainable business practices.

Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9Hotelworks added: "Asia’s resort islands have a once in a lifetime opportunity to get sustainable travel right the second time around. We have to take a long-term view of sustainable tourism."

And with Gen Z increasingly giving a voice — and solutions — to the sustainability debate, PHIST gathered students from the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM) / Les Roches, who spoke about issues ranging from renewable energy to gender equality, and offered insights into the main concerns facing young people today.

A day prior to actual event day on 28 October, four one-hour environmental masterclasses covering topics such as single-use plastic prevention, waste management, and sustainable seafood were also put online, free for all.

The fifth edition PHIST is set to return in Autumn 2022, with a face-to-face event hosted in Phuket. Full details will be announced at a later date.