Ko Mak is rapidly progressing toward the status of first ‘Low-carbon Destination’ in Thailand.

Ko Mak, an idyllic island off the coast of Trat province, has been working hard for years to become the first “Low-carbon Destination” in Thailand. The island’s natural resources are mostly intact, and the indigenous way of life is still very much the standard.

Numerous significant initiatives are under way on this tiny island in Trat province to make tourism more environmentally friendly and accessible to everybody. This is consistent with the current trend in Thai tourism.

While Ko Mak becomes more well-known, the island’s locals and business owners have made it their mission to encourage visitors to leave no trace as they explore. Numerous initiatives have been launched over the past decade with the goal of developing a tourist model that is gentler on the environment and the local economy, while yet providing for everyone.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor, said “Ko Mak’s path towards becoming the first ‘Low-carbon Destination’ is very much in line with Thailand’s direction towards more responsible and more sustainable tourism through the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign, and the government’s Bio-Circular-Green or BCG Economy Model. It is wonderful to see such a genuine effort aimed at preserving the natural and cultural attractions that make the island so charming.”

Through their “Laughing Island Conqueror vs. Low-carbon Footprint Traveller” campaign, which ran from May to July of this year, TAT aimed to raise awareness of the positive changes taking place on Ko Mak. Project leaders hoped that by encouraging visitors to Trat province to take measures to reduce their carbon impact, they may encourage travelers to the area to act more responsibly.

Tourists concerned about their impact on the environment could take a special route that includes the low-carbon destinations of Ko Mak, Ko Kradat (Safari Island), and Ko ‘Kai-Hua-Ro’ (Laughing Island), and use an app called CF Calculator to keep track of their route, distance traveled, tourist activities, and daily food intake. Contributing to the objective of making Ko Mak the first ‘Low-carbon Destination’ in Thailand, visitors helped cut down on trash that may have added to the greenhouse effect, PM2.5 pollution, and climate change.

Within the context of low-carbon tourism, DASTA organises, promotes, and aids various community and local organisations in developing sustainable tourism. DASTA has aided Ko Mak accomplish its low-carbon aim in a variety of ways, including through promoting efficient use of energy and water, waste management, and preservation of the community’s way of life.

Several major initiatives were launched in 2015, after the signing of the Ko Mak Low-carbon Destination Declaration on September 25, 2012: There were three initiatives: 1) Eat it Fresh, which urged island businesses to support local fishermen by purchasing seafood and 2) Help Ko Mak, which urged visitors to practice “green” habits like reusing towels and turning off appliances when not in use and 3) A Good Host, which urged islanders to cut down on carbon-producing behaviors like smoking and driving alone.

There will be a variety of initiatives aimed at encouraging low-carbon tourism beginning in the year 2020. Garbage Hero volunteers picking up trash, green hotels meeting environmental requirements, a solar-powered vegetable garden, and the use of an online “Ko Mak Low Carbon Calculator” are just a few examples (www.kohmlowcarbon.com).