Hello friend,

This week, let’s dive into Part Four of Thailand’s Best-Kept Sustainable Travel Stories. We sat down with two trailblazers, Willem Niemeijer of Khiri Travel and YAANA Ventures, and Somsak Boonkam of Local Alike, to uncover how they’re transforming tourism. From empowering communities and safeguarding ecosystems to inspiring tomorrow’s leaders, their work redefines what it means to travel responsibly.

Finally, we’re thrilled to unveil the first 15 sustainability solution providers in our brand-new directory! Designed to fast-track your sustainability goals, this resource connects travel and hospitality businesses to the tools they need to make a real impact—quickly and effectively.

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A Thailand’s Blueprint for Responsible Travel Service Providers

In 2023, Thailand welcomed over 28 million international arrivals, solidifying its status as a favorite destination for international travelers. Thailand’s travel service provider landscape is as diverse as its visitors, ranging from internationally renowned companies like Intrepid to small, independent operators catering to everyday travelers to niche traveler segments. 

While nearly all operators share a unified vision of showcasing Thailand’s beauty to the world, only a select few approach this mission through a sustainability-focused lens. Even fewer achieve commercial success while adhering to the triple bottom line—balancing people, planet, and profit as their guiding principle.

Last year, in our conversation with Anne de Jong, Co-Founder of the Good Tourism Institute, we explored the crucial role of tour operators as catalysts for change. Our discussion underscored the responsibility of these operators to act as curators of eco-conscious travel experiences, advocates for local communities, and stewards of environmental preservation in an era where sustainability is no longer optional but imperative.

Fast forward to September 2024, Thailand’s Best-Kept Sustainable Travel Stories illuminated this ethos through discussions with leaders like Willem Niemeijer, CEO of YAANA Ventures, and Somsak Boonkam, Founder & CEO of Local Alike, who both embody the spirit of responsible tourism with purpose, pride, and innovation.

YAANA Ventures’ multi-country model highlights Southeast Asia’s potential as a hub for responsible travel. At the same time, Local Alike’s focus on youth engagement demonstrates how grassroots initiatives can have a lasting impact.

Together, these Thailand’s trailblazers are redefining responsible tourism, proving that travel can be a force for good and a model for the future.

YAANA Ventures: Empowering People and Championing the Planet through Purposeful Companies

At the time of our interview with Willem, two of YAANA Ventures’ flagship businesses — Visama Mae Chan Lodge in northern Thailand and Anurak Community Lodge near Khao Sok National Park in the south — were gravely affected by unprecedented floods sweeping across Thailand.

While Visama Mae Chan Lodge escaped significant damage, some of its staff were deeply affected. Demonstrating the company’s unwavering commitment to people, Khiri Reach, the independent charity arm of Khiri Travel, was on the ground providing critical support. In addition to emergency response, Khiri Reach also delivers work in environmental conservation, wildfire preservation, and community empowerment in seven focus countries.  

When asked about the foresight behind founding Khiri Reach in 2007, Willem attributed it to the principles that have guided him since day one. “Since the founding of our first business Khiri Travel, the triple bottom line —people, planet, and profit— has anchored how we conduct our business,” he shared.

Vision Beyond Borders

Khiri Travel’s origin story is one of boldness and foresight. Defying conventional wisdom, Willem pursued a multi-country growth strategy from the outset. While many entrepreneurs would focus on mastering a single market, he envisioned the untapped potential of operating across Southeast Asia, a region on the cusp of transformation.

Khiri Travel’s journey began humbly in a Bangkok shophouse in 1993. Meanwhile, Vietnam was emerging from a U.S. embargo, and Cambodia was rebuilding from the horrors of the Khmer Rouge genocide. 

These evolving economic landscapes created fertile ground for Khiri Travel’s growth. Today, Khiri Travel spans nine countries with 17 offices, most recently expanding to the Philippines, and welcomes over 30,000 visitors annually.

Anchored in Purpose, Driven by People

Despite its expansive and diverse portfolio which includes tour operators, eco-lodges, and travel tech companies, YAANA Ventures is unified by a singular sense of purpose. 

Willem emphasized that this purpose is nurtured by a community of like-minded individuals who share the same values. “Running a sustainable and responsible business isn’t an exception, it should be the norm,” he asserted.

This ethos is evident in YAANA’s accolades. Anurak Community Lodge recently won the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s 2024 Responsible Tourism Award for “Responsible Tourism Accommodation,” while Cardamom Tented Camp earned Global Ecosphere Retreats® status, the highest membership level in The Long Run community.

For Willem, however, the true measure of success lies not only in awards but also in impact. 

“Seeing the scale of influence that Khiri Travel has on people motivates me to continue,” he shared.

»»» Read Willem’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs who are thinking about looking to start or scale their sustainability-led business.

Local Alike: Shaping the Next Generation of Travel Leaders

As Thailand’s sustainable travel landscape evolves, so does its focus on cultivating the next wave of tourism leaders. 

Recognizing Gen Z’s values-driven mindset, Local Alike has collaborated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to create the Voluntour Camp program. This initiative integrates volunteerism with cultural immersion, empowering young participants to contribute meaningfully to community development.

As Ms. Somruedee Jitjong, Deputy Governor of the Domestic Market at TAT, explained, “Volunteering offers a great opportunity for tourism. By organizing camps in communities that need development, we stimulate local economies while fostering meaningful connections.”

The program’s pilot in September 2024 engaged nearly 500 university students in activities ranging from day trips to immersive overnight stays. 

Local Alike’s CEO, Somsak Boonkam, sees this as a critical step toward redefining voluntourism: “Our goal is to evolve traditional volunteer camps into impactful experiences that benefit both travelers and communities.”

Are you looking for a technical sustainability solution?

Each solution provider in our directory is carefully selected and validated through thorough research or firsthand experience. We recommend only the products and services we truly believe because integrity is at the heart of everything we do.

While we’re confident in our choices, all service negotiations and agreements are between you and the provider.

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