ASEAN looks to create an event around community-based tourism

06 Jun 2013  2068 | World Travel News

BANGKOK- ASEAN is increasingly looking to empower Community-Based Tourism (CBT) as the organization of Southeast Asian Nations sees it as an opportunity to reduce social inequality among a society, strengthen political stability and reduce conflicts over natural resources. CBT is a way to help local –and mostly rural- communities to participate to the development of their society and at the same to benefit from this development; it makes the community politically more mature as it is also involved into the decision-making process; it increases pride and strengthen local cultures; it helps improving the local quality of life and helps using resources in a more sustainable way. Community tourism projects should give local people a fair share of the benefits/profits of tourism and a say in deciding how incoming tourism is managed.

The ASEAN website lists 27 CBT development across nine countries members of ASEAN. Singapore is not included into CBT projects due not only to its specific status of City State and also the absence of impoverished communities (See list below).

Now that ASEAN is endorsing CBT as a strength for regional tourism, the association is moving into its next step to improve CBT standards “ to ensure quality in terms of marketing and tourism experience. CBT common standards will make tourism transparent and reliable to visitors”, explained a CBT panelist during the “Innovating CBT in ASEAN” conference organized at the end of May in Bangkok. Standards will help setting benchmarks about hygiene in villages, activities, accommodation, general comfort and safety. Such a move at ASEAN level will first help to put all member countries on a unified foot. It is likely that it will contribute to reach new potential travellers who will feel comfortable with an approved quality seal.  Tour Operators will also favour CBT activities which respect standard quality criteria.

Another important aspect is also the education of local communities about the benefit of tourism at their local level and teach about their way to contribute to a CBT success. It goes from standard international language skills to learning about cultural differences to feel more responsive in presence of foreign visitors. Raising the quality of handicraft will also permit local production to find a better echo among international visitors coming to communities.

Another issue is also a platform to promote CBT villages at ASEAN level and look at some common marketing initiative. ASEAN stakeholders are now ready to organize an annual conference to measure CBT achievements and highlight projects. Cambodia proposed to host the next ASEAN CBT Conference in 2014.

List of ASEAN endorsed CBT projects (source ASEAN Secretariat website)

Brunei Darussalam - Community-based Tourism
1.    Baitul Wajihah
2.    Kampong Sungai Matan
3.    Melilas Longhouse

Cambodia - Community-based Tourism
1.    Chiphat Community-based Ecotourism in Koh Kong Province
2.    Preah Rumkel Community-based Ecotourism, Stung Treng Province
3.    Chambok Community-based Ecotourism, Kom Pong Speu Province

Indonesia - Community-based Tourism
1.    Pentingsari Village
2.    Laweyan Village
3.    Kampung Naga

Lao PDR - Community-based Tourism
1.    Ban Hadkhai Village, Thapabath, Bolikhamxay Province
2.    Ban Kietngong, Champasack Province
3.    Nalan Village, Loung Namtha Province

Malaysia - Community-based Tourism
1.    Homestay Kampung Kuala Medang, Luala Lipis, Pahang
2.    Homestay Walai Tokou, Kundasang, Sabah
3.    Homestay Kampung Santubong, Kuching, Sarawak

Myanmar - Community-based Tourism
1.    Kyaing Tong, Eastern Shan State
2.    Putao, Kachin State
3.    Kalaw, Southern Shan State

Philippines - Community-based Tourism
1.    Abatan River Community Life Tour, Bohol
2.    Donsol Whaleshark Interaction Tour (Donsol, Sorgoson)
3.    Tibolo Cultural Village Tour (Tagabawa - Bagobo Tribes), Digos City, Davao del Sur

Singapore - Community-based Tourism
None

Thailand - Community-based Tourism
1.    Mae Kampong Village, Chiang Mai Province
2.    Kiriwon Village, Nakorn Si Thammarat Provience
3.    Leeled Village, Surat Thani Province

Viet Nam - Community-based Tourism
1.    Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Ha Giang Province
2.    Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province
3.    Co Phat Village, Con Cuong District, Nghe An Province

 

Sourced: TravelDailyNews

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