Resort of the Year 2018 for Chanthaburi

10:06pm, Tuesday 24 September 2019

One of the highlights of the resort is the water feature with koi carp pond

Faasai Resort and Spa has won Resort of the Year 2018 for Chanthaburi in the Travel and Hospitality awards.

The judges selected Faasai Resort and Spa as Resort of the Year Chanthaburi after reviewing its commitment to eco tourism and responsible travel, guests' reviews and comments, and the services it offers including spa treatments, visits to its organic farm, and local tours. The family-owned resort opened 13 years ago with seven rooms and later expanded to 14.

It was built from scratch by Thai-New Zealand couple Surin Laopha and Bronwen Evans, taking care to preserve and enhance the local trees and natural ecosystem. They also bought nearby land with natural wetlands which has been restored and developed as an organic farm and nature sanctuary called White Water Lake. Both the resort and farm are magnets for wildlife with more than 100 species of birds visiting year-round including brahminy kites, lapwings, kingfishers, coucals and bulbuls.

Bronwen says they are delighted to be chosen as Resort of the Year for Chanthaburi.

″Our sustainable tourism ideals are working closely with the local community, growing healthy food in harmony with nature and sharing experiences of the local culture with guests. This fits well with the policy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand of 'inclusive tourism' or using tourism to promote sustainable development within the community.″

″Our motto of grace, harmony and beauty extends to everything we do including care of guests, staff, the environment while also reflecting the spiritual values and cultural heritage of Thailand.″

She says the province of Chanthaburi on Thailand's eastern border is ideally placed to meet the growing interest in green travel and authenticity.
Despite being only three hours' drive from the metropolis of Bangkok, it boasts beaches, coral reefs, marine parks and towering waterfalls, as well as the highest mountain peak in the East - Kao Soi Dao.

The resort offers nature based tourism including exploration of the unique coastal and forest ecosystem of Kung Wiman, a small fishing village surrounded by orchards, shrimp farms and rubber plantations. Neighbouring Kung Kraben Bay is a marine sanctuary under royal patronage which is fringed with mangroves.

Visitors to Kung Kraben can take a boardwalk through the mangroves, go kayaking amongst the mangrove trees or in the bay (between October and March) and visit an aquarium which has a diversity of marine life including seahorses, stingrays, sharks, clown and puffer fish as well as a marine breeding centre in the bay.

Faasai Resort and Spa has also won several green and responsible tourism awards as listed below:

Green award and special award for cultivation and use of herbs and spices from the Governor of Chanthaburi 2011

Outstanding service to the environment and nature in the Eastern region -Thailand Boutique Awards 2010

Best Small Hotel in Thailand - TAT Green Awards 2011 and 2009.

Responsible Tourism award - Faasai Resort & Spa was runner-up in the
budget category in the 2008 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards.

The resort has organic gardens and wildlife sanctuary nearby for guests to visir

Peaceful scene at the wetlands