Which Southeast Asian countries place growing emphasis on sustainable travel?

Vietnamese travelers lead Southeast Asia in prioritizing lowering environmental impact and carbon emissions while traveling, with 29% citing it as their top motivation for sustainable travel, according to Agoda's February survey of 1,036 participants across eight Asian markets.

They are followed by Thai tourists (16%), Malaysians (12%) and Indonesians (10%), Agoda added.

Thailand is prioritizing sustainable tourism with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, focusing on green tourism, cultural preservation, and community building, according to TTG Asia.

Malaysia is advancing sustainable tourism under its National Tourism Policy 2020-2030, which seeks to balance economic development with environmental protection and the preservation of cultural heritage. The strategy emphasizes expanding ecotourism offerings, promoting community-based homestay programmes, and encouraging environmentally responsible practices across the hospitality sector.

Authorities in Bali, Indonesia's premier tourist destination has set an ambitious goal of becoming free from plastic waste by 2027, Jakarta reported.

Agoda is expanding its program in partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature that encourages travelers across Asia to make more responsible choices that support conservation.

This year's US$1.5 million commitment marks Agoda's largest contribution to date, funding WWF conservation projects across 10 markets in Asia.