Thailand – Possibly our best hope for truly Sustainable Tourism

One impression of Thailand is mass long haul tourism, Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Koh Samui Island – Krabi – Pattaya – Phuket, high rise resort hotels, international guests, anything goes, the Tsunami, sex tourism, low cost, good service, nice people, spicy food, wonderful beaches, fantastic, fantastic value.

You could say that Thailand is such a wonderful mass tourism, something-for-everyone destination that if it didn’t exist, the industry would have invented it.

But, it’s much more than that!

What the mass media images don’t generally portray about Thailand’s tourism is its well-nurtured and well brought up child – a strongly growing sustainable tourism industry that is already winning accolades galore.

Take, for instance…

Andaman Discoveries. is continuing the work of North Andaman Tsunami Relief, an independent non profit, non religious organization that was started by Bodhi Garrett after he lost his home, job, and many of his friends when the tsunami hit the Andaman Coast in 2004.

Just in the last two years, this small community tourism organisation has won the Virgin Responsible Tourism award, the SEED Initiative award, the Travel and Leisure Global Vision award and was a finalist in the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award. Why? Because it does Responsible Tourism very, very well.

Through a network of friends, dedicated volunteers, and donations, NATR has implemented over 120 projects in 12 villages, by listening to and working with the villagers themselves. All projects have focused on long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability and creating realistic economic opportunities through training and marketing.

andamandiscoveries.com

Take for instance…

The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), located in Bangkok, Thailand, was set up with seed funding from the GMS Tourism Working Group which represents the six national governments in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

It co-ordinates sustainable pro-poor tourism development projects in the Mekong in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and promotes the Mekong region as a single travel and tourism destination.

Mekongtourism.org

Take for instance…

The Community Based Tourism Institute, providing support and facilitating cooperation among stakeholders from grassroots to international levels, in order to strengthen the capacity of Thai communities to manage tourism sustainably.”
It facilitates Community based tourism research and development initiatives which strengthen local communities and support sustainable natural resource management;
It builds the capacity of Thai Community-based Tourism Networks to cooperate with the private sector, and to advocate for tourism policy which benefits local communities; amongst much more.

cbt-i.org

Take, for instance…

ECOT (The Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism) counts amongst its members the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), Pacific Conference of Churches(PCC), Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).

A religious organisation? No! ECOT is possibly the world’s most fearless and informed campaigning organisation to make sure tourism is conducted with human rights. It’s based in Thailand.

ecotonline.org

Take, for instance…

Six Senses and Banyantree, at the upper end of the market, two of the most ethical (and successful) luxury ecolodge and spa operators in the world.

Where are they both based and nurtured? Thailand.

sixsenses.com
banyantree.com

From the smallest community tourism organisations, to the toughest campaigners, to the most expensive of them all, what do they have in common?

Principles, hard work and Thailand: the cradle of sustainable tourism.

Valere Tjolle