Because We Only Have One Planet: Ethical Management and Prevention of Greenwashing in the Tourism Industry for Sustainable Development Goals
Keywords:
Greenwashing, Sustainable Tourism, Principle of Responsible Investment (PRI), ESG Framework, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Abstract
This article presents an integrated analysis of social sciences and humanities to understand and address social phenomena impacting the tourism industry, particularly the issue of greenwashing, which undermines and obstructs the country's achievement of sustainable tourism goals. This academic article integrates the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the ISO standard, which sets international sustainability indicators relevant to sustainable tourism development, to propose a systematic approach appropriate to the current and future contexts of Thailand. This approach also explored the issue through case studies of international hotel and tourism businesses. The analysis reveals several key mechanisms to mitigate greenwashing. These key mechanisms include the use of certification systems; organizational reporting to assess and manage environmental, social, and governance impacts to build sustainability and credibility (ESG); ISO-compliant environmental management; and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). However, the application of these key mechanisms in the Thai tourism industry requires policy support, enforcement, awareness-raising, and sincere management across all sectors. This article presents recommendations for both government and private sectors to develop Thai tourism businesses to be internationally competitive without neglecting the principles of true sustainability.
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