Digital travel platform Agoda, in partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), has launched the Sustainable Tourism Academy, a free online training platform aimed at equipping hospitality professionals in Southeast Asia with practical sustainability knowledge and tools.
The initiative responds to rising demand for environmentally responsible accommodation options, as travelers increasingly prioritize sustainability in their booking decisions.
Designed to meet the specific challenges of Asia’s hotel sector, the platform provides tailored content in English, Vietnamese, Malay, Thai, and Indonesian.
Participants can access interactive learning modules, case studies, quizzes, and discussion boards at their own pace.
Upon completing the course, users will receive a certificate jointly issued by Agoda and GSTC, validating their expertise in sustainable tourism practices.
Agoda’s Chief Commercial Officer Damien Pfirsch said the platform seeks to create meaningful change across the industry.
“By offering this resource free of charge, we’re making sustainability education accessible, practical, and impactful — from kitchen staff to general managers,” he said.
The training content is built around the GSTC Standard, a globally recognized framework covering sustainable management, social and economic benefits, cultural preservation, and environmental responsibility.
It was developed collaboratively by GSTC and Agoda’s sustainability team, with input from regional tourism leaders and trainers such as CB Ramkumar, Mochamad Nalendra, and Catherine Germier-Hamel.
The Sustainable Tourism Academy was officially launched on May 30 at an event in Bangkok attended by over 100 hospitality professionals.
The launch event highlighted industry trends and reinforced Agoda and GSTC’s shared goal of embedding sustainability as a standard practice in Southeast Asia’s travel sector.
Business News Asia
