The awards are for community-based tourism and "green" hotels and resorts.

This new awards category is being introduced with the sup-port of the Green Leaf Founda-tion, registered in 1998, whose founding partners are the TAT, the Thai Hotels Association, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority and the Association for the Development of Environ-

mental Quality.

Under the Green Leaf Programme for Hotels initiated by the foundation, participating hotels and resorts are evaluated on initiatives and activities undertaken by individual properties in specific areas.

They include policy and standards on environmental practice, waste management, the efficient use of energy and water, environmentally friendly product purchase, indoor air quality, air and noise pollution, water quality, recycling and the storage and management of fuel, gas and toxic waste.

The other areas are ecological impact, cooperation with com-munity and local organisations/ community relations, communication, management support and training.

The closing date for the receipt of applications for the Most Outstanding Community-based Tourism Award is June 16.

The 2007 Thailand Tourism Awards programme is a special edition of the biennial tourism awards inaugurated by the TAT in 1996.

These new awards are being launched as a tribute to His Majesty the King's 80th birthday in December.

The Thailand Tourism Awards presentation ceremony will be held in the same month.

The two award categories being featured in this year's Thailand Tourism Awards are the Most Outstanding Community-based Tourism Award and the Most Outstanding Green Leaf Hotel/Resort Award.

These recognise outstanding contributions by an environmentally friendly hotel or resort property.

Both awards are designed to promote the conservation of the country's natural and cultural resources and support sustainable tourism development in tandem with quality development of the Thai tourism industry.

The Thailand Tourism Awards are intended to serve as a symbol of assurance of the quality and reliability of tourism products and services offered by a particular organisation, operator or community.

The awards commend outstanding contributions to Thai tourism.

They honour innovation and creativity in the fields of sustainable tourism and conservation, as well as in environmental protection.

The national tourism agency, on behalf of the Tourism and Sports Ministry's Office of Tourism Development, is inviting applications and entries for the 2007 awards.

Sustainable community-based tourism is expected to channel tourism revenue to grass-roots communities, thereby alleviating rural poverty.