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Why tourism is important. Ecotourism is important for many reasons, as it promotes sustainable travel practices, conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, community empowerment, and cultural preservation. In this short webinar, we will discuss the importance of tourism and how it can contribute to a sustainable future for our land and its people. Join us to learn why tourism is an essential part of responsible travel and conservation efforts.
Eco-tourism And Community Development
Ecotourism offers a variety of benefits that can contribute to sustainable development, conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, development of cultural heritage, and support of local communities. By adopting ecotourism, we can create a sustainable future for the planet and its people.
Report: Development Of Waterfront Community Sustainable Tourism Program In Bangkok Suburban Area: Participation Process, Peace Identity And Environmental Design — Center For Social Development Studies
Ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism that focuses on responsible travel to natural areas that protect the environment and sustain the well-being of local communities. It is characterized by low-impact activities that reduce the negative impact on the environment and promote conservation, education, and community development.
Ecotourism aims to provide a unique and enriching experience to travelers while also raising environmental and cultural awareness, and contributing to the economic development of local communities. It involves responsible travel practices that support conservation efforts, reduce negative impacts on the environment, and promote the well-being of local residents.
Individuals participating in ecotourism must follow certain rules. In worsening climate conditions, the principles of tourism are beneficial to the entire world. Ecotourism is important for several reasons.
Mark contributions as invalid if you consider them to be irrelevant or of no value to the article. This feedback is unique to you and will not be shared publicly The country’s diverse geographical locations and rich cultural capital offer a wide variety of tourist experiences from relaxing on the beautiful sandy beaches of the South to exploring the lush green forests. of the northern hills and enjoying the local cultures of the North East. In 2019, Thailand welcomed a record 40 million visitors. For this reason, tourism is the main driver of Thailand’s economic development, providing approximately 20% of the national GDP and employing more than 4.2 million people (11% of total employment). However, Thailand’s tourism industry does not have a negative impact. Unsustainable tourism management has proven to cause environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity as well as fueling uneven economic development. Often, the economic benefits of tourism fall into the hands of large tourists and foreign investors while local communities receive minimal economic benefits and face many social and environmental problems.
Resident Attitudes Toward Sustainable Community Tourism: Journal Of Sustainable Tourism: Vol 18, No 4
Although the spread of COVID-19 has caused significant setbacks in the tourism industry, it is also giving Thailand an opportunity to rethink its tourism. Sustainable and sustainable tourism has become an important topic for the country and is now one of Thailand’s focus areas. Accelerator Lab Thailand took this opportunity to embark on a journey to support the growing pace of sustainable tourism by contributing new ways to redefine the country’s tourism industry, especially in the area of community-based tourism.
It emerged in Thailand in the 1990s, ‘community-based tourism (CBT)’ suggests the idea of ’tourism by local people for local people’. It is one of the sustainable tourism solutions because, in this framework, the local people are the key decision-makers in the development of their tourism and the ones who fully benefit from it. Being long-term residents of the areas, local communities are strongly encouraged to balance economic growth with the cultural and environmental impacts caused by tourism activities. At the end of the day, it’s their home. However, it is important to clarify the misconception that CBT refers to ‘village tourism’, limited only to certain forms of tourism that take place in rural areas. CBT is a tourism management model that puts local communities at the center of the process and can include different tourism styles from rural tourism to urban tourism, nature tourism, or even luxury tourism. Basically, CBT is about community empowerment as it is a process by which local people are empowered to improve their livelihoods.
Epidemics present both challenges and opportunities for CBT. Restrictions on international travel have caused a significant drop in foreign visitors who used to make up an important part of the CBT’s visitors. The local community needed to adapt to the domestic tourism market and diversify their demands such as; community products outside of tourism activities. On the other hand, this disaster has shaped new tourism cultures – traveling in small groups, choosing less crowded places, escaping to nature, and seeking experiences and activities that are unique to well-being, among others. Many of these new options are very much in line with what CBT has to offer and could potentially pave the way for the golden age of CBT. Moreover, disaster-induced closures of major cities led to rural and urban migration. Many people who were working in the cities returned to their areas during the lockdown and some wanted to find living options in their homes. CBT offers an alternative that in turn benefits from increased human resources – a skilled labor force that has acquired skills and exposure during their time working in cities. In short, it is an important time for CBT to take the next step to ensure its growth in this rapidly changing world.
Initially, national workshops were jointly organized by Accelerator Lab Thailand, Policy Lab Thailand, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Management (DASTA), and Local Alike (one of the first companies in Thailand that works in CBT). Representatives from local communities, relevant government agencies, the private sector, civil society organizations, and academics exchanged views on the trends and weaknesses affecting CBT and discussed the desired future. and how to proceed. Some interesting aspects of the exercise include:
Pdf) Bamboo: Alternative Sustainable Tourism For Community Development
While the debate highlighted many aspects of development, building the capacity of local communities emerged as one of the conditions for success. Since local communities are the main drivers of CBT, they must be equipped with the structures and resources that enable them to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Existing capacity building initiatives have been fairly successful in supporting local communities to embark on their CBT journey, often focusing on building foundations and adopting a short/medium vision. Although the focus is necessary, it may not be enough anymore. Especially when local communities manage to establish the foundations of their CBT, they also need to start thinking about sustainability and being proactive. As a result, the Lab identified this as our area of work: how local communities can make CBT sustainable.
Accelerator Lab Thailand in partnership with Local Alike has joined hands with two pilot communities to begin our educational journey. Social innovation tools were applied to invite local stakeholders to reflect on their CBT and look at it through a sustainable lens. Given the diverse nature of each society, discussions and sustainability efforts have taken different directions. However, one thing has shown itself. Society is never the same; CBT development is a gathering place for different groups to interact and build momentum towards sustainability. To elaborate, let’s take a closer look at each of the pilot communities…
As a neighbor of the famous Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Chulabhorn Pattana 9 community in Yala province in Southern Thailand has attracted many nature lovers; Some visited the village to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the natural environment while others were delighted with the biodiversity of the Hala-Bala forest, not to mention the fascinating cultural heritage of the village from its time. lived in Malaya. The village is famous for welcoming visitors as it has welcomed relatives and friends from Malaysia and Singapore (a legacy of the Malaya Community) for decades. Eight years ago, the concept of CBT was introduced, and a new generation rose to lead the administration of CBT. The difference between the generations is reflected in the different visions of the tourism management – one hopes to increase the number of visitors while another wants to maintain a delicate balance. The new generation realizes that their biggest group is nature lovers. Therefore, nature is their greatest capital in CBT and its preservation is of utmost importance. Therefore, the discussion about limiting the number of visitors taking into account the carrying capacity of the area was welcomed by the CBT management team.
CBT at Chulabhorn Pattana 9 not only aims to reduce the negative impact of tourism activities but also encourages positive changes in the local community. In many cases, tourism may cause waste management problems. On the contrary, in the community of Chulabhorn Pattana 9, the visitors are the ones who demand that the waste of the village needs to be managed well. Hearing these comments, the CBT management team was keen to launch a waste management initiative with the support of Lab and Local Alike. Sorting waste and making organic compost was spearheaded by the CBT team and will be shared with other villagers to encourage more people to join the effort.
What Are The Practices That Thailand Has Took To Develop Sustainable Tourism?
In addition, the CBT management team wanted to develop tourism activities
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