How to be an Eco-Friendly Tourist in Thailand: Making an Everlasting Impact

Many tourists visit Thailand to witness its stunning wildlife species, but it is important to avoid sites and activities that exploit animals for entertainment. Elephant riding is a popular activity that many are excited to try but causes great distress to elephants. Despite their large stature, elephants haven’t evolved to carry weight on their backs and doing so can cause them plenty of discomfort. To add to this, elephants used for riding are often badly treated, malnourished and overworked to attract more profit. 

If you are keen on visiting these magnificent giants, you can do so at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, the Surin Project in Surin, or the Elephant Haven in Kanchanaburi. 

Similarly, several species of monkeys share a similar predicament. Thailand is home to five different species of monkeys, and you’ll encounter them frequently as you travel south to areas like Krabi. However, make sure to avoid supporting trick shows and performances featuring these animals, as they are often held in captivity, mistreated and forced to perform for audiences. 

This is an essential factor to consider if you hope to be an eco-conscious traveller. Doing some research will help you find places that are continuously involved in various conservation projects and initiatives to help restore and protect the ecosystems of Thailand.  

There are other ways in which hotels and resorts may strive to be eco-friendly like reducing water and energy consumption, promoting environmental education and using recycled or locally-sourced goods. These are other indicators to look for when choosing your accommodations. 

Carbon emission from vehicles and planes is a significant factor that contributes to pollution. However, there are plenty of alternative ways for you to get around. Public transport is the best option Try using the train rather than a flight when travelling long-distance between cities and towns. Using a public ferry is also a great option if you plan on crossing the waters for an island getaway. Alternatively, renting a bicycle during your stay allows you to move around at your own pace without any impact on the environment.

If you are looking for an island getaway in a resort at Samui, Phuket or any other island, you might have planned to explore the underwater world or relax on the beach. If so, you’ll need to be extra careful about your surroundings. If you plan on spending time at the beach, make sure to practise proper waste disposal and avoid leaving any plastic materials behind. Some places may have community beach clean-ups which you can participate in to help keep the beaches safe and promote sustainability. 

If you plan to head into the waters, make sure to wear reef-safe sunscreen, as coral reefs face significant threats from sunscreen chemicals. You should also avoid touching or standing on coral reefs or picking up starfish, corals and shells for souvenirs. Each of these plays an important role in the ecosystem and disturbing them can do plenty of harm to marine life. 

If you wish to be more proactive as an eco-friendly traveller there are several conservation efforts in Thailand that you can participate in. Visiting the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand, a project set up in 1998 that has since remained committed to safeguarding elephants. You can visit for just a day or even volunteer for a month at the park. You could also visit the Samui Elephant Haven, located close to Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort to help prepare meals to feed the elephants that are rescued and looked after at the Haven. Visiting these sanctuaries provides a more authentic way of interacting with these animals while also contributing to their health and survival.

The Gibbon Project in Phuket is another cause worth supporting that seeks to rescue and rehabilitate Gibbons who have been captured and held in captivity. You can visit their facility to participate in their efforts and spread awareness about the dangers that these animals face.