Thailand Tourism Conference GSTC 2026 Concludes in Phuket
GSTC 2026 Conference Highlights Thailand's Sustainable Tourism Approach
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with its partners, has concluded the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference (GSTC) 2026 in Phuket, held from 21 to 24 April 2026. The event brought together stakeholders from across the tourism sector, including government bodies, the MICE industry, and civil society, to discuss practical approaches to sustainability.
The conference was officially opened on 22 April by Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, alongside TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool and GSTC Chair Luigi Cabrini. On 23 April, a farewell dinner included the handover of the GSTC 2027 hosting flag to Nassau in The Bahamas. Post-conference tours on 24 April explored local initiatives in Phuket, including community-based tourism, marine livelihoods, heritage areas, and human-wildlife interaction.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool noted that the event provided a platform for discussion across hospitality, destination management, and community resilience, with a focus on long-term value for local communities.
The conference took place across three venues: Royal Phuket City Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, and Kata Thani Beach Resort and Spa. It attracted more than 660 delegates from 60 countries, including policymakers, academics, and tourism professionals.
Discussions were structured around three main themes: sustainable hospitality, resilient cities and communities, and visitor management. Sessions addressed topics such as climate adaptation, visitor distribution, elephant welfare in tourism, marine conservation under the Green Fins standard, food sourcing, waste reduction, accessibility, and the use of sustainability data.
More than 60 speakers contributed to sessions, panels, and workshops. Delegates also took part in a consultation workshop for revising the GSTC Destination Standard and reviewed findings from Phuket's GSTC Destination Assessment covering October 2024 to September 2025. The assessment examined areas such as management practices, socio-economic impact, cultural heritage, and environmental measures.
Ahead of the main event, training sessions were held on 19 and 20 April, focusing on sustainable tourism practices, MICE operations, and attractions. Auditor training for GSTC standards was also conducted. The GSTC Academic Symposium on 21 April brought together researchers and practitioners to discuss current challenges.
The programme began with a welcome dinner at Blue Elephant Phuket on 21 April, featuring cultural performances, local cuisine, and presentations highlighting community initiatives.
Event organisers implemented measures to reduce environmental impact, including eliminating single-use plastics, limiting printed materials, and using recyclable resources. Vegetarian and vegan menus were provided throughout. The conference's carbon footprint was calculated and offset in partnership with BIC Event and TCEB, with a plan to plant one tree per attendee through the organization Reforest.
Session recordings and event materials are being made available through GSTC's digital channels, with additional content to follow on its website.
GSTC 2026 was organized in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Phuket Province, and the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation (STDF).