Thailand’s Famous Hospitality Lends a Helping Hand for Koalas in Australia

5^th August 2022: Minor Hotels recently joined hands with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Royal Thai Embassy and the Koala Clancy Foundation in planting 1000 trees to help restore vital koala habitats in regional Australia. 

The event, in conjunction with National Tree Day, comprised of members of the Royal Thai Embassy, including Thailand’s Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, TAT Sydney and a large group of enthusiastic volunteers.

 “It is wonderful to see how passionate and dedicated the Koala Clancy Foundation has been to protect and create a habitat for koalas,” said Ambassador Ms. Busadee Santipitaks. “The event resonates with Thailand’s continuing efforts to help restore elephant rainforest habitat in Thailand. Furthermore, the latest efforts to offset carbon emissions is the Bangkok governor's campaign to plant one million trees in Bangkok during the next four years.”

TAT Director Suladda Sarutilavan expanded on Thailand’s sustainability goals, explaining the Kingdom’s Bio-Circular-Green economy model, and what that means for the future of tourism in Thailand, with initiatives to support the development of more sustainable hotels, conscious dining, and community-based tourism.  TAT recently launched the 7 Greens campaign: Green Heart, Green Logistics, Green Attraction, Green Activity, Green Community, Green Service, Green Plus which encourages resorts and tourism operators to adopt, step by step, more sustainable strategies for the future.

Funding for the planting came from a City of Greater Geelong Environmental Sustainability Grant and the TAT in 2021 and from the TAT in collaboration with Minor Hotels in 2022. Minor Hotels has long embraced sustainable pioneering efforts in Thailand to better the lives of captive elephants through Anantara’s Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. The company’s Group Director of Sustainability concluded: “It’s fantastic to see Thailand’s famous hospitality crossing international borders, not only to continue to build relationships but to also share sustainable practices that better the lives of indigenous wildlife across the globe.”  

About the Tourism Authority of Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand Sydney office has been in operation for over 20 years and is funded by the Government of Thailand. TAT Sydney operates as a marketing, public relations and administration branch of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, with the Head Office in Bangkok.

The Sydney office is responsible for the regional area of Australia and New Zealand. The main objective of the Tourism Authority of Thailand is to promote the country of Thailand as a holiday destination.

About Koala Clancy Foundation

Koala Clancy Foundation is a not-for-profit incorporated association and registered charity that supports the wild koalas of the Western Plains of Victoria, particularly around the You Yangs and Brisbane Ranges, west of Melbourne.

The organisation has planted 77,000 koala trees since 2016, and removed 2.8 million invasive weeds from koala habitat.     

TAT Sydney Office: 

Deborah Dickson-Smith

E: deborahzoe42@gmail.com