Sustainable Tourism and Corporate Governance in Asia

In this recorded session from September 2020, Uwe Schulte converses with Ho Kwon Ping, executive chair of Banyan Tree Holdings, about sustainable and regenerative tourism in Asia. Ho Kwon Ping shares his journey from journalist to hotelier, starting with the accidental acquisition of an abandoned tin mine in Phuket that led to the creation of Banyan Tree Resorts. He discusses the initial challenges of environmental rehabilitation and the evolution of their sustainable practices, emphasizing the balance between economic development and environmental preservation. Ho elaborates on the concept of regenerative tourism, which aims not only to sustain but also to improve environmental and social conditions. He describes Banyan Tree’s efforts to design eco-friendly resorts, support local communities, and create a genuine service culture. The conversation also touches on the complexities of promoting tourism in developing countries while minimizing its carbon footprint and the potential for applying sustainable practices to mass tourism to achieve broader impacts. Ho underscores the importance of balancing economic benefits with environmental stewardship and the role of governance both in corporations and in governmental practices in advancing sustainable practices.