Policy Period: 2026–2027
Applicable To: All employees, departments and company operations, with relevant requirements communicated to business partners and suppliers
Policy Owner: Sustainability Manager
Approved By: Managing Director
Our Sustainability Commitment
At Royal Silk Holidays, we believe that responsible tourism begins with the choices we make in our daily work.
As a locally owned Destination Management Company in Thailand with a team of 15 employees, we are committed to providing safe, enjoyable and meaningful travel experiences while reducing negative impacts on the environment, respecting local cultures and supporting communities.
Our sustainability approach focuses on practical actions that we can implement, monitor and improve. We aim to make responsible choices in our office, employment practices, travel products, supplier relationships and customer services.
We recognize that sustainability is a continuous journey. We will set realistic targets, encourage participation from our employees and partners, and review our progress regularly.
This policy supports our company’s mission and our commitment to working toward the Thailand Good Travel and Travelife sustainability standards.
PART A — INTERNAL SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT
1. Sustainability Management and Legal Compliance
We are committed to operating our business legally, ethically and responsibly.
Our commitments
- Comply with applicable Thai laws, business licensing requirements, labor regulations, environmental legislation, health and safety requirements, and the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
- Conduct business honestly and fairly, without bribery, corruption, fraud or unfair business practices.
- Integrate sustainability into company decisions, planning and daily operations.
- Assign clear sustainability responsibilities to management and employees.
- Maintain an annual sustainability action plan with measurable targets.
How we put this into practice
- The Managing Director approves the sustainability policy, annual targets and important improvement measures.
- The Sustainability Manager coordinates implementation with department representatives.
- Each department includes relevant sustainability responsibilities in its normal working procedures.
- Company policies, instructions and supporting documents are kept on the company intranet.
- All employees are informed of the policy and receive relevant training.
- Progress is reviewed quarterly, and management reviews overall results annually.
- Concerns about unethical conduct or breaches of company policy can be reported confidentially to management.
2. Social Responsibility, Staff Welfare and Human Rights
Our employees are central to our business. We aim to provide a fair, safe and respectful workplace where everyone can contribute and develop.
Our commitments
- Provide written employment agreements, lawful wages, benefits, leave and appropriate working hours.
- Respect equal opportunities, freedom of association and the rights of employees.
- Prohibit discrimination, harassment, forced labor, exploitative child labor, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
- Respect maternity protection and applicable social security requirements.
- Provide safe working conditions and relevant professional training.
- Encourage employees to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
How we put this into practice
- Administration maintains employment contracts, staff records and applicable employment documentation.
- Management reviews working conditions and workplace safety.
- Staff receive information about professional conduct, health and safety, privacy protection and sustainability practices.
- Complaints may be made with the Managing Director or designated responsible person and are handled confidentially.
- Training attendance and important staff communications are recorded.
- Identified problems are reviewed and corrective action is taken where necessary.
3. Office Environment and Community Relations
We aim to reduce the environmental impact of our office through simple, practical measures.
Energy and Climate
- Switch off lights, air conditioning, computers and electrical equipment when not in use.
- Use air-conditioning responsibly and avoid cooling unoccupied rooms.
- Purchase energy-efficient appliances, favouring Thai Energy Label No. 5 where suitable.
- Record monthly electricity use and review unusual changes.
- Consider renewable-energy investments, including rooftop solar panels, when practical.
- Encourage suitable lower-carbon working practices and travel choices.
- Use available information to improve the understanding of our carbon footprint and avoid unsupported carbon-neutral claims.
Water and Waste
- Monitor monthly water consumption and repair leaks promptly.
- Reduce paper use through digital records and online communication.
- Encourage reusable water bottles and drinking-water refills.
- Separate recyclable, general and other waste.
- Arrange appropriate disposal of hazardous waste and electronic equipment.
- Avoid unnecessary single-use packaging and food waste.
Responsible Purchasing and Community Relations
- Consider durability, energy efficiency and environmental impact when purchasing office equipment and supplies.
- Support local businesses and community initiatives where appropriate.
- Treat neighbors, communities and other stakeholders respectfully.
How we put this into practice
Administration records monthly utility consumption and retains bills. Employees follow the office Energy Reduction Policy and internal Code of Conduct. Office resource consumption and improvement opportunities are reviewed through the sustainability action plan.
We measure the performance of activities under our direct control and encourage suppliers to improve their own practices without claiming that we control their operations.
PART B — EXTERNAL SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT
4. Partner Agencies and Local Representatives
We aim to cooperate with responsible local partners who respect people, communities and the environment.
Our commitments
- Select legally operating partners with appropriate business qualifications.
- Communicate our Business Cooperation and Sustainability Code of Conduct.
- Encourage fair employment, human-rights protection, environmental responsibility and ethical business practices.
- Avoid cooperation with businesses involved in serious exploitation, corruption or harmful activities.
How we put this into practice
- Relevant new partners complete a basic sustainability assessment before appointment.
- Cooperation agreements include appropriate sustainability requirements.
- Product and Contracting staff keep supplier assessments and relevant documents.
- Important concerns are communicated to partners with corrective-action requests and follow-up dates.
- Serious unresolved breaches may result in suspension or termination of cooperation.
- Priority existing partners are reviewed progressively according to risk and available resources.
5. Sustainable Transport Selection
Royal Silk Holidays does not own or operate a transport fleet. We therefore focus on responsible selection and communication with our transport providers.
Our commitments
- Select vehicles suitable for passenger numbers, luggage, travel distance, accessibility and comfort.
- Use licensed transport providers with appropriate insurance and safety standards.
- Encourage safe driving, regular vehicle maintenance and avoidance of unnecessary engine idling.
- Offer trains, public transport, walking, cycling and other lower-emission transport where practical and suitable.
- Give priority to passenger safety and essential comfort.
How we put this into practice
Operations and Reservations follow the company’s Transport Selection Policy and provide suppliers with passenger and service requirements.
Supplier documentation, incidents and service feedback are reviewed. Relevant safety and environmental expectations are communicated to transport providers.
6. Sustainable Accommodation
We aim to support accommodation providers that offer quality service while respecting their employees, communities and environment.
Our commitments
- Prefer hotels with recognised sustainability certification or demonstrated responsible practices.
- Support suitable locally owned hotels and smaller accommodation providers.
- Consider fire safety, legal operation, fair employment, resource conservation, waste management and local economic benefits.
- Avoid accommodation providers involved in serious unresolved safety, human-rights or environmental violations.
How we put this into practice
- Product and Contracting staff use the company’s Sustainable Accommodation Policy and assessment checklist.
- Sustainability information is requested during contracting and supplier reviews.
- Where relevant, certification status is checked before being used in promotional claims.
- Customer feedback and significant supplier concerns are documented.
- Improvement opportunities are discussed with accommodation partners.
We recognize that smaller properties may have responsible practices without formal certification.
7. Responsible Excursions and Activities
We develop travel experiences that respect local cultures, protect nature and provide meaningful benefits to communities.
Our commitments
- Promote local cultural experiences, traditional crafts, nature activities, wellness and community-based tourism.
- Support local guides, producers, artisans and small businesses.
- Respect community participation, cultural traditions and privacy.
- Follow national park regulations, protected-area rules and visitor restrictions.
- Protect biodiversity and avoid activities that damage natural habitats.
- Prohibit elephant riding, animal performances, harmful wildlife handling, exploitative orphanage visits and activities involving sexual exploitation or human trafficking.
- Avoid the trade or promotion of illegal wildlife products and protected cultural objects.
How we put this into practice
- Product Development checks new activities for safety, legality, animal welfare and possible impacts on communities and nature.
- Excursion suppliers receive the Sustainable Excursions and Activities Policy.
- Important sustainability requirements are included in supplier agreements.
- Guides are instructed to discourage wildlife feeding, harmful animal interactions, littering and disrespectful visitor behavior.
- Guest complaints, guide reports and identified risks are reviewed.
- Activities with serious unresolved safety, exploitation or environmental concerns will not be offered.
8. Tour Leaders, Guides and Local Representatives
Our guides and representatives have an important role in communicating responsible tourism practices and ensuring customer safety.
Our commitments
- Work with legally licensed or appropriately qualified guides.
- Provide fair working arrangements and clear service instructions.
- Respect professional standards, human rights and customer privacy.
- Encourage guides to protect local culture, wildlife and natural environments.
- Ensure guides understand relevant safety and emergency procedures.
How we put this into practice
- Operations provides tour information, safety instructions and relevant sustainability guidelines.
- Guides receive briefings about cultural etiquette, responsible wildlife viewing, customer protection, privacy and child safeguarding.
- Guides inform travellers about appropriate behaviour at sensitive destinations.
- Emergency incidents, supplier concerns and customer feedback are reported to Operations.
- Briefing and training records are retained.
9. Destinations, Local Communities and Cultural Heritage
We want tourism to create positive experiences for travellers and meaningful benefits for local communities.
Our commitments
- Promote suitable less-visited destinations to help distribute tourism benefits.
- Support locally owned businesses, community-based tourism, local food, crafts and guides.
- Respect local culture, religious traditions, community decisions and cultural heritage.
- Consider environmental sensitivity, local conditions and community capacity when developing itineraries.
- Avoid unnecessary visitor pressure on vulnerable ecosystems or heritage sites.
- Respect the privacy and dignity of community members.
How we put this into practice
- Product Development includes suitable local experiences and lesser-known destinations in new itineraries.
- Community activities are developed with willing local hosts and appropriate operators.
- Group sizes and itineraries are selected according to site conditions and safety.
- Guides communicate visitor behavior guidelines.
- Feedback from local partners and customers helps improve programs.
Our Royal Silk Signature Collection supports this approach through hidden-gem destinations, meaningful cultural exchanges, wellness, nature and responsible soft-adventure experiences.
10. Customer Communication and Protection
We aim to provide accurate information, safe travel experiences and reliable customer support.
Our commitments
- Communicate product descriptions, prices, conditions and services clearly.
- Avoid misleading sustainability statements or unsupported certification and carbon-neutral claims.
- Provide relevant destination, cultural, health and safety information.
- Protect customer data and privacy in accordance with applicable laws.
- Respect customers’ needs, including accessibility and dietary requirements where possible.
- Maintain procedures for emergencies, complaints and service recovery.
- Encourage responsible travel behavior.
How we put this into practice
- Reservations and Operations provide B2B partners with relevant pre-travel information for onward communication to travelers.
- Guides reinforce essential safety and responsible travel instructions during tours.
- Emergency contact details are provided for travelers.
- The company follows its Customer Complaints Procedure and Emergency Response Guidelines.
- Complaints and significant incidents are recorded, investigated and followed up.
- Personal information is handled according to the company Privacy Policy.
- Photographs used for promotion require appropriate permission.
- Sales and Marketing check sustainability claims before publication.
PART C — TARGETS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND MONITORING
11. Measurable Sustainability Targets: 2026–2027
The following targets will guide our first implementation period. They will be reviewed against actual operating data and adjusted with documented management approval where necessary.
| No. | Sustainability Target | Start/Ends | Responsible Department |
| 1 | 100% of the 15 employees receive and acknowledge the Sustainability Policy | October 26 | Sustainability Coordinator |
| 2 | Record office electricity and water consumption for 12 months in 2027 | November 26-December 28 | Administration |
| 3 | Reduce office paper purchasing by 10% compared with the recorded 2026 baseline | January 27-December 27 | Administration |
| 4 | Assess 80% of preferred accommodation, top three excursions in each main destination and main local partner suppliers. Create supplier assessment checklist and communicate the company Sustainability Policy to all. | November 26-December 27 | Product & contracting |
| 5 | Complete basic sustainability assessments for at least 80% of active priority accommodation, excursion and local partner suppliers | November 26-December 27 | Product & contracting |
| 6 | Provide sustainability and safety guidelines to 100% of newly appointed regular guides and local representatives | January 26 to Dec 2028 | Operations |
| 7 | Develop or update at least 4 travel experiences featuring local communities, nature, lesser-known destinations or practical lower-carbon options | December 2026-December 2027 | Product Development |
| 8 | Record 100% of formal customer complaints and significant safety incidents and assign a responsible follow-up person | January 2027-December 2028 | Operations & Customer Service |
| 9 | Complete 4 documented sustainability progress reviews annually, with one annual management review | January 2027-December 2028 | Sustainability Manager |
Measurement and evidence
- Targets 1: Staff acknowledgements, attendance lists and training records.
- Targets 2–3: Monthly bills, paper purchasing records and consumption summaries.
- Targets 4–5: Supplier register, assessment forms and corrective-action records.
- Target 6: Guide briefing records and acknowledgement forms.
- Target 7: Product descriptions, itineraries and supplier records.
- Target 8: Complaint and incident register with follow-up records.
- Target 9: Quarterly review notes, updated action plan and annual management approval.
The 2026 baseline will be based on available records. Where a complete baseline is not available, the company will document the limitations and use the first complete measurement period for future comparisons.
12. Responsibilities and Implementation
Sustainability is a shared responsibility. We use our existing management and departmental structure rather than creating a separate department.
Managing Director
Approves the policy, provides necessary resources and reviews annual progress.
Sustainability Manager
Coordinates sustainability activities, follows up on the action plan, maintains evidence and manages reporting to the relevant sustainability assessment platform.
Administration and Accounting
Maintains employment-related records and monitors office utilities, purchasing and waste management.
Product Development and Contracting
Applies sustainability requirements to product planning, accommodation, excursions, partner selection and supplier assessments.
Operations and Reservations
Applies transport and guide requirements, coordinates safety information, records incidents and follows up on operational concerns.
Sales and Marketing
Communicates accurate sustainability information, supports responsible marketing and collects relevant customer and partner feedback.
All employees are expected to follow relevant company policies and contribute practical suggestions.
13. Monitoring, Training and Continuous Improvement
Our sustainability management system is based on simple records and regular communication.
Monthly
Administration records office electricity and water consumption. Relevant departments update supplier assessments, complaints and incidents as they occur.
Quarterly
The Sustainability Manager meets with responsible staff to review targets, problems, corrective actions and progress.
Annually
The Managing Director reviews the Sustainability Policy, action-plan results, training needs and opportunities for improvement.
Training and internal communication
The policy and supporting procedures are stored on the company intranet under Company Documents. Staff receive policy updates through meetings, internal communications and relevant training.
Supplier communication
Relevant supplier expectations are communicated through contracts, codes of conduct, written instructions and assessment checklists.
Evidence and record keeping
Supporting documents include utility bills, training records, supplier assessments, contracts, customer feedback, incident reports and review notes. Records are kept securely in the company document system.
Where the company identifies a problem or is unable to achieve a target, the department responsible will record the reason and propose corrective action.
14. Policy Communication and Review
This policy is communicated internally to all employees and made available to relevant business partners, suppliers and stakeholders.
The company will publish a shorter summary of its sustainability commitments on its website.
The Sustainability Manager coordinates necessary updates, while the Managing Director reviews and approves the policy at least once a year or when important business, legal or operational changes occur.
Our objective is not simply to obtain a sustainability certificate, but to make responsible business practices part of how Royal Silk Holidays operate every day.
Management Approval
This Sustainability Policy has been reviewed and approved by the management of Royal Silk Holidays Co., Ltd. for implementation throughout the company.
Managing Director: Supaporn Prachumpai