Phuket Alternative Tours (PAT) is a group of tour operators and service providers (Providers), who have teamed together to deliver a tourist product that is:

- In harmony with the environment;
- Sustainable; and
- Offers a very personal experience for visitors to Phuket and surrounding areas.

The PAT web site is privately owned by tour operators. While it is run as an enterprise, the site's primary role is to stimulate, encourage, and develop tourism in a way that is sustainable for the environment, and intensely rewarding for the visitor.

To ensure sound environmental practice, maintain the integrity of the site, uphold our standards, and determine the suitability of Providers to be part of this group, an Executive Group (EG) exists. The EG consists of tour operators and others, who have demonstrated their commitment to sustainable tourism, and are held in high regard by their peers.

The EG considers all applications by tour operators and service providers to be Providers of the site. If the applicant organizations do not meet the standards established by the EG, they are not accepted onto the site. The work of the EG also extends to determining the suitability of Providers to continue to be on the site. Each Provider is required to sign an Environmental & Cultural Code of Practice, which commits the member to; operate in an environmentally sustainable way; seek to enhance the natural environment and the way that the industry interacts with it; and to provide an alternative visitor experience.

The Code of Practice provides the Providers with proof that they are operating in an environmentally sustainable way. It is signed, dated and individually numbered. We encourage Providers to display the Code of Practice proudly, and to use it to promote their service or tour to visitors. It is your guarantee that when you visit Phuket, you are part of environmental solutions, rather than contributing to environmental degradation. It is also a symbol of the commitment of the operator to provide you with the experience a responsible, aware visitor is seeking.

The EG develops the Environmental & Cultural Code of Practice and monitors its effectiveness. As needs change, it can be modified to meet the needs of circumstances, with input as appropriate from the Providers. An example of the Code of Practice can be seen on this site.

Phuket Alternative Tours is set to develop environmental benchmarks which will serve as inspiration for all tour operators and service providers, and to become a leading player in sustainable tourism in Phuket and beyond.

By supporting the business operators featured on this site, you are not only ensuring high quality visitor experiences for yourself, but you are also contributing to the development of environmentally sustainable tourism practices.

We encourage our visitors to contribute to the integrity of this site, we have our own forum for use by visitors to this site as well as Providers of tours and services.