Asia’s biggest sustainability event for tourism, PHIST 2025, broke records today with over 1,300 delegates from across the region as government and business leaders warned the hospitality industry to act fast on integrating community-driven sustainability into travel and tourism experiences to appeal to a new generation of visitors.

Hotels and tourism operators need to engage with local communities to enrich travel and tourism programmes and meet the changing preferences of travellers in order to drive visitor dwindling numbers and reboot Thailand’s flagging tourism industry, delegates heard.

Held at the Angsana Laguna Phuket resort, the 8th edition of Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism (PHIST) brought together hoteliers, policy makers and innovators for more than 25 hard- hitting sessions, alongside a sustainable fashion show, farm-to-table showcase and awards recognising best practices.

In Phuket, the public and private sectors have collaborated very successfully in the past, such as with the Sandbox initiative establishing Phuket as the international entry point into Thailand during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the industry is urging them to do so again.

Phuket Governor Khun Sophon Suwannarat used his keynote address to call for stronger local governance and sustainable urban resort planning.

“Local power and lasting progress can be achieved if we focus on four key areas – green spaces, infrastructure, sustainability, and the move towards a Phuket Special Administrative Zone here. For example, a new community park at Layan Beach will be created to increase green space and help curb illegal construction. Laguna Phuket group also contributed for a road.”

William E. Heinecke, Chairman and Founder of Minor International, which operates 640 hotels in 65 countries, including more than 30 in Thailand, urged the private sector to deliver measurable results. As he accepted the Green Giant Award for his leadership in sustainable business, he explains about his initiative.

“Our framework at Minor is built on three pillars – People, Nature and Responsible Business. By 2030 we aim to support 3 million people through workforce development and community engagement,

“The bigger picture is that Thailand’s tourism industry is flagging and needs to pivot to re-energise
its offering across the world. Thailand has a chance to reset. Community engagement and positive
social outcomes have been left behind. This is the new battle ground for the industry.”

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After triumphing in its home opener, the Bellarmine University men’s soccer team returns to the road for two contests this week, as the Knights will face Belmont at 7:30 p.m. (ET) Tuesday and UNC Asheville at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The Belmont (3-0) and UNC Asheville (2-1) matches bookend a stretch of four road games over five contests to start 2025 for Bellarmine (1-1-1), which began the year with trips to Evansville and Kentucky before a 3-1 home victory Saturday over Xavier.

ABOUT BELMONT

Bellarmine and Belmont have squared off in every season of the Knights’ D1 era, and this year’s clash will mark the sixth meeting. Although the Bruins own a 3-0-2 record in the series, it’s been highly competitive. In the last four games, Belmont won a pair 1-0 (2021, 2023) and the teams deadlocked 1-1 twice (2022, 2024). This is the first meeting between the two programs that isn’t a Chastonay vs. Chastonay affair. Bellarmine head coach Tim Chastonay‘s son, AJ, is a former standout midfielder for Belmont (2020-24) and played in all five of the previous matchups, scoring three goals. The Bruins are off to a terrific start this season, posting a 2-1 home win over Wright State before 2-0 and 1-0 road wins over Memphis and Harvard, respectively.

ABOUT UNC ASHEVILLE

Bellarmine and UNC Asheville played to a scoreless draw last season in Louisville. The Bulldogs will host this season and are 2-0 on their own turf, claiming a 2-1 win over Howard and a 3-1 victory over Georgia State. UNC Asheville’s lone loss came on the road, 1-0 at Bellarmine ASUN counterpart Queens. Rodrigo Mendes is responsible for four of the team’s five goals, including a hat trick against Georgia State. He provided the game-winner in both that contest and against Howard.

KNIGHTS NOTES:

• Bellarmine boasted the second-ranked defense in the ASUN last season (1.19 GAA). The three goals the Knights have conceded this season have all been on set pieces — two penalty kicks and one free kick that was a yard outside the box.

• Peter Van Euwen amassed a career-high nine saves in the win over Xavier. The redshirt senior notched five against Kentucky. He’s carrying an .850 save percentage.

• Cade Morgan provided the equalizer at 1-1 against Xavier less than two minutes into the second half. It was the redshirt junior midfielder’s first career goal.

• Tate McCrery delivered the game-winning goal against the Musketeers. Two of the redshirt junior midfielder’s three career goals have been game-winners.

• Rhys Davies put away Bellarmine’s third goal against Xavier on a penalty kick. It was the senior defender’s first-ever goal in his two seasons as a Knight, but he did tally three as a sophomore at D2 McKendree before transferring to BU.

• Redshirt senior midfielder Jackson Marks collected an assist against Xavier that represented the first point of his collegiate career.

• Nick Harshaw also registered an assist against Xavier. It was the second helper of the sophomore midfielder’s career. He was an ASUN All-Freshman Team selection last season.

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