Lisu Lodge and Khum Lanna in Chiang Mai were judged in the 10th Thailand Tourism Awards 2015 as having the best travel programme for foreign tourists in Thailand's northern region. This was officially announced by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The award in this category was based on high quality service levels coupled with a commitment to promoting sustainable tourism in rural areas in Thailand.
The Thailand Tourism Awards are aimed at promoting creativity in tourism, and encouraging environmentally friendly tourism practices. The awards in 2015 were based on the concept of 'Conserving the Environment' and promoting sustainable tourism. The judging criteria took into account various aspects of tourism management, including whether the local community was involved in creating or operating the products or services offered. Other factors focused on having a creative business agenda with a deep environmental and cultural relations purpose, as evidenced in efforts to support local culture and livelihoods, eco-friendly tour programmes, sustainable tourism, and innovative marketing.
Following on the heels of the Thailand Tourism Awards announcement, Lisu Lodge was selected as the winner of the Silver Magellan Award in the category Eco-Friendly "Green" Destinations.
With entries from around the globe, the Magellan Awards is one of the most prominent awards programmes in the world, honouring the best in the travel industry. The contestants are judged by a panel of top professionals in the field.
The winners were announced in Travel Weekly, a very influential United States national newspaper for the travel industry.
Lanjia Lodge in Chiang Rai has also excelled. It was recently chosen as a 2015 winner by WildAsia for Best Community Engagement and Development. Wild Asia's Responsible Tourism Awards is one of the first tourism awards in Asia specifically focused on sustainable tourism best practices. Established by Wild Asia in 2006, this annual award aims to recognize tourism operators who are making a positive difference in the destination where they operate by adopting sustainable management practices. This year, the awards were announced on 8 September, during the PATA Travel Mart in Bangalore, India. The award was conferred on Lanjia Lodge for its exceptional commitment to supporting the local community and economy in which it operates.
"We are proud to be recognized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. We work hard to ensure that our guests have unique and memorable experience during their stay at the lodges," says Chananya Phataraprasit, CEO of Asian Oasis Travel. "Our work at Lisu Lodge and Lanjia Lodge encompasses all aspects of community engagement. Winning international awards like Magellan and Wild Asia Awards is a great achievement for the community and the lodge."