Sustainable Tourism Academy Celebrates 3,000-User Milestone in First Year with ASEAN Expansion and New Language Support

SINGAPORE, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) celebrate the first anniversary of the Sustainable Tourism Academy, a joint effort to drive more sustainable practices across Asia. Marking its first full year since inception, the Academy continues to support hospitality professionals across the region in building practical knowledge on sustainable tourism, based on the GSTC Hotel Standard.

Since its launch, the Academy has surpassed 3,000 registered users. Together with the in-person training programs GSTC and Agoda have been delivering since 2022, the partnership has collectively reached over 3,500 industry professionals.

Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, said: "Education and training are one of the most powerful ways to inspire meaningful change in tourism. One year after its launch, the Sustainable Tourism Academy reminds us that when knowledge is made accessible, more people are empowered to take practical steps toward sustainability. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with Agoda and all learners who are part of this journey."

The majority of registered users are based across Asian markets, with India, Thailand, and Malaysia representing the largest user bases. Other key markets include Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Academy users represent a diverse cross-section of the region's hospitality sector, from professionals at leading global hotel groups like Accor Group, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and ONYX Hospitality Group, to independent operators and hospitality students from institutions such as the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management.

Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President of Supply, Agoda, said: "At Agoda, we aim to be a trusted partner our hotel partners turn to as they navigate their sustainability journeys. By making high-caliber, localized resources like the Sustainable Tourism Academy freely accessible, we are proud to equip our partners and the wider industry with the practical tools and knowledge aligned with international standards."

Marking its anniversary, the Sustainable Tourism Academy was also recognized by ASEAN as a key regional resource for capacity building. Moving forward, Agoda and GSTC will collaborate with ASEAN Member States to expand the Academy's reach and drive more sustainable practices across the region.

Congratulating both organizations on the milestone, Philippine Tourism Undersecretary Verna C. Buensuceso, Chair of the ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), emphasized the alignment between the Academy's mission and the region's long-term economic and environmental goals: "The ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) welcome the continued growth of the Sustainable Tourism Academy and its contribution to strengthening sustainability knowledge and capacity among tourism stakeholders across the region. As ASEAN advances the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan (ATSP) 2026–2030, initiatives such as this help equip tourism professionals with practical tools and knowledge to support sustainable, resilient, and quality tourism development. We commend Agoda and GSTC for this achievement and look forward to continued collaboration in promoting sustainable tourism practices across the region."

The Academy now supports seven languages: English, Vietnamese, Malay, Thai, and Indonesian, as well as the recent additions of Japanese and Korean. The most popular courses of the Academy include GSTC Standards & Performance Indicators, GSTC Certification, and Developing a Sustainable Policy and Strategy, highlighting the sector's interest in both foundational sustainability knowledge and practical implementation.

Learn more about the Sustainable Tourism Academy and enroll today here:
https://sustainabletourismacademy.org/.

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Sustainable Tourism Academy Celebrates 3,000-User Milestone in First Year with ASEAN Expansion and New Language Support

Sustainable Tourism Academy Celebrates 3,000-User Milestone in First Year with ASEAN Expansion and New Language Support

SINGAPORE, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Malaysian families are approaching the mid-year school holidays with a more flexible travel mindset, balancing convenient domestic breaks with growing interest in regional destinations across Asia, according to Agoda accommodation searches.

Based on Agoda accommodation searches that included at least one child, made between 1 January and 30 April 2026 for stays between 22 May and 7 June 2026, Malaysia ranked first among the top destination countries searched by Malaysian travellers, recording a 60% year-on-year increase. Regional destinations also saw search growth, with Vietnam up 85%, China up 51%, Singapore up 43% and Japan up 43%.

Regional city destinations also remained part of Malaysian families' school holiday plans. Tokyo recorded a 53% year-on-year increase in family travel search interest, while Phuket grew 44%, Singapore 43%, Bangkok 33% and Osaka 19%. The data suggests that while domestic destinations continue to lead school holiday travel interest, Malaysian families are also considering familiar regional destinations across Asia for the mid-year break.

At city level, however, the domestic travel story remains prominent, with Malaysian destinations appearing across Agoda's top searched city list for the school holiday travel period.

Domestic destinations that demonstrated strong interest growth were Port Dickson, which saw a 172% year-on-year increase in family travel search interest, followed by Kuala Terengganu at 149%, Kuantan at 105%, Cameron Highlands at 100% and Genting Highlands at 85%. Other destinations including Malacca, Ipoh, Penang and Johor Bahru also continued to see strong family travel search growth during the school holiday period.

The increase in interest across these destinations points to the variety of school holiday breaks Malaysian families are considering. Coastal destinations such as Port Dickson, Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan offer beachside escapes without the need for long-haul travel, while Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands continue to appeal to families looking for cooler weather and short-break convenience. Food and heritage destinations such as Penang, Malacca and Ipoh also remained popular among family travellers.

"School holidays are no longer just about one big family trip. What we are seeing is Malaysian families searching across a wider range of travel options, from quick domestic breaks to regional destinations that are familiar, accessible and family-friendly," said Fabian Teja, Country Director Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda. "The strong interest in both local getaways and regional destinations suggests that families are becoming more flexible in how they plan their holidays, whether that means a beach break in Port Dickson, cooler weather in Cameron Highlands or a city escape elsewhere in Asia."

With access to over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes and over 300,000 activities, Agoda makes it simple for travellers to compare prices and plan trips, whether they are looking for a quick domestic break or a family holiday further afield. For a wide range of family-friendly accommodation options, visit Agoda's website or download the Agoda mobile app.

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Port Dickson, Kuala Terengganu and Cameron Highlands see rising family travel interest this school holiday, according to Agoda