Khiri Reach, the charitable arm of Southeast Asia-based Khiri Travel, has won the global 2023 Skal Sustainable Tourism Award in the tour operator category.
The foundation won for its submission Sixteen Years of Reaching Out in Asia.
The award was received by Kevin S. Rautenbach, President of Skal International Thailand, on behalf of Khiri Reach during the opening ceremony of the 82nd Skal World Congress.
“We are grateful to the judges for recognising 16 years of community help and environmental care by Khiri Reach,” said Willem Niemeijer, Chairman of the foundation and CEO of Khiri Travel.
Since 2007, Khiri Reach projects have ranged from helping earthquake and flood victims in Laos and Lombok to assisting with animal rehabilitation in Phuket and Myanmar, supporting tourism workers during Covid-19, building water wells, and setting up community-based tourism in Cambodia.
“Guided by a belief in tourism as a force for good, Khiri Reach will continue to commit to projects that are grassroots and have a strong, direct, and sustainable impact on the community or environment,” said Niemeijer.
He added that Khiri Reach was effective because Khiri Travel covered all overheads, guaranteeing 100 percent of donations go to the frontline.
The foundation has helped fund or implement over 20 projects since its inception.
The work of Khiri Reach was also acknowledged by the judges of the 2023 Travel Marketing Awards in London in June. Khiri Reach was awarded third place globally for its approach to sustainable and responsible tourism.
