Agents should promote community tourism

BANGKOK Thailand should adopt a much stronger focus on Community Based Tourism (CBT) to offer a viable alternative for travellers seeking different holiday experiences to the traditional sightseeing and beach holiday options.
Speaking at Association of Thai Travel Agents meeting, last Thursday, Desingnated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration’s Community Based Tourism Office director, Suthep Keasang, told travel agents that CBT would help to encourage the country’s tourism industry in line with the government approved 2015 tourism theme “Discover Thainess Year”.
“Although Community Based Tourism is well known elsewhere, the sector is new to Thailand and needs far more effort to make it a worthwhile sector that will help to filter tourism revenue to communities,” he said.
inside no 1.1 Community based tourism programmes are usually developed around special elements in local lifestyles touching on culture, people and elements that community members feel proud to present to guests.
The director added: “Next year will be a good starting point for CBT as Thailand will focus on the campaign Discover Thainess, which will focus on Thai ways, culture and activities that give visitors insights into the heritage and lifestyles of Thai people.”
Activities include jungle trekking, traditional fishing, natural dying and learning to cook local dishes, traditional massage and spa treatments and in the sports sector Thai boxing.
He said tourism was a source of income, a tool for the conservation of tradition, culture, lifestyle, as well as a tool for environmental conservation.
He encourages travel agents to give more time to community-based tourism and offer options to their customers to discover Thainess.
inside no 1Community programmes could presented as side trips for visitors on holiday at popular destinations such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Samui.
ATTA president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn recommended members to take on board the suggestions.
“CBT could help travel operators to gain a new dimension to offer more programmes for tourists and give agents products that cannot be easily booked directly by clients.”
Currently, there are 13 model communities of the CBT Thailand list. They are:
Baan Naam Chiew Community: Mangrove of the East in Trat province;
Lam Klud Community: Coastal fishing community in Trat;
Sun Lom Joy Community: Tribal livelihood in the city, Chiang Mai;
Rai Gong King Community: Traditional healthy livelihood community, Chiang Mai;
Takien Tia Community: Traditional culture and food, Pattaya, Chonburi;
Nong Chak Ngaew Community: Ancient Chinese community, Pattaya, Chonburi;
Muang Kao Community: Living Heritage community, Sukhothai;
Cook Pattana Community: Local wisdom, local folklore in local community, Sukhothai;
Nakhon Chum Community: Ancient food market community, Kamphaengphet;
Koksathorn Community: The hill of Cherry Blossom and mountainous trail, Loei;
Pla Ba Community: Mountainous agriculture livelihood, Loei;
Nai Wiang Community: Living old town, Nan;
Bo Suak Community: Traditional rural livelihood, Nan.
Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration,or DASTA, was founded in 2003 and has projects at six sites namely Chang Island, Pattaya, Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaengphet, Loei, Nan and Uthong Ancient City.

sourced:ttrweekly.com