India, July 8 -- Responsible tourism resort Anurak Lodge in southern Thailand won recognition for its Regenerative Tourism operations at the 2026 Responsible Tourism Awards Southeast Asia.
Award Recognition
- Event: 2026 Responsible Tourism Awards Southeast Asia, held in Sarawak, Malaysia on 7 July.
- Category Won: Regenerative Tourism - going beyond minimizing harm to actively improving the environment and community.
- Property: Anurak Lodge, a 19-key ecolodge on the edge of Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani, southern Thailand.
- Past Honors: Awards from PATA, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and SKAL.
Regenerative Initiatives
- Rainforest Rising Project: Replacing palm oil plantations with indigenous species like black plum, Burmese grape, and cowa mangosteen - boosting biodiversity and pollination.
- Guest Participation: Visitors help plant saplings, hike with guides, raft rivers, bike, cook, and engage in community-led activities.
- Sustainability Practices: Compost-making machine for the lodge's vegetable garden, annual sustainability reporting, reductions in waste, plastics, and energy use.
- Staff Commitment: 23 employees actively involved in ecological recovery and guest engagement.
Leadership Statement
- George Newling-Ward (Manager): Praised staff enthusiasm and guest feedback as key drivers of success in recycling, energy reduction, and environmental regeneration.
Why It Matters
This award highlights how small-scale lodges can lead in regenerative tourism, showing that hospitality can actively restore ecosystems rather than just minimize damage. It positions Anurak Lodge as a model for eco-conscious travel in Southeast Asia.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Travel Media.