The latest Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index puts Bangkok in second place among the Asian destinations ranked.
The rating, measured by social and environmental sustainability strategies, industry supplier support and convention bureau strategy and initiatives, highlights the performance of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) when compared with other Asian convention bureaux participating in the ranking.
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) recently gave out GDS Index Awards to destinations recognised for their sustainable practices in the business tourism and events industry.
The cities with the five highest overall scores were Gothenburg (Sweden), Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Oslo and Uppsala (Sweden).
The five Asian cities with the highest overall scores were Tokyo, Bangkok, Goyang (South Korea), Sapporo and Dubai.
Bangkok ranked second in Asia and 21st in the world.
The ranking was measured across four key areas: city environmental strategy and infrastructure (14 topics), city social sustainability performance (four topics), industry supplier support (eight topics) and convention bureau (CVB) strategy and initiatives (12 topics).
Bangkok received an overall score of 58%. The capital scored 69% in the area of CVB performance, exceeding the global benchmark of 53%.
President Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya said the TCEB and Bangkok took part in the GDS Index for the first time and the bureau was delighted with the result.
The ranking showcases the country's commitment to international standards and the focus on environmental sustainability for meetings and events.
"Given the fact that international Mice [meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions] travellers increasingly focus on sustainability, while the GDS Index aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this ranking certainly benefits both the Mice industry and Thailand at the same time," Mr Chiruit said.
The GDS Index is a prize-winning grassroots Scandinavian initiative that evolved into the first-ever sustainability ranking for event destinations worldwide.
According to the ICCA and the UFI (the global association of the exhibition industry), Thailand ranked fifth in Asia for international conventions and seventh in the continent for international exhibitions. Both indices spotlighted Thailand as the No.1 destination for conventions and exhibitions in Asean.
