Ecotourism for Sustainable Development in Thailand

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Ecotourism for Sustainable Development in
Thailand

• By
• Suprapa Boonyanate

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What is Ecotourism??

• Ecotourism is "Responsible travel to natural
  areas that conserves the environment and improves
  the well-being of local people
• -International Ecotourism Society (1990)

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The Concepts of Ecotourism
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The Seven Characteristics of Ecotourism

• Involves travel to natural destinations.
• Minimizes impact.
• Builds environmental awareness.
• Provides direct financial benefits for
  conservation.

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The Seven Characteristics of Ecotourism

• Provides financial benefits and empowerment for
  local people.
• Respects local culture.
• Supports human rights and demographic movements

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Ecotourism Policies in Thailand

• Policy and Strategy on tourism resources and
  environmental management
• To manage tourism resources and the environment
  within the carrying capacity in zoned areas
  controlling and limiting pollution in tourism
  areas in order to protect and maintain the
  environment, and to decrease environmental
  impacts from tourism.

The Sun raise in Pai
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Ecotourism Policies in Thailand

• Policy and Strategy on educational provision and
  creating environmental
• awareness
• To develop a learning process for tourists in
  order to stimulate an awareness of ecosystem
  values and, hence, effect peoples behavior.

Visitors Center in Sukho Thai
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Ecotourism Policies in Thailand

• Policy and Strategy on local community
  involvement and public participation
• To allow local communities and concerned
  agencies to participate in all processes of
  ecotourism, so as to manage ecotourism, educate
  people and support ecotourism businesses.

Ecotourism guideline for local people in Bann
Prasat
The leader of Bann Prasat
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Ecotourism Policies in Thailand

• Policy and Strategy on marketing, promotion and
  tour-guiding
• To promote ecotourism and develop the quality of
  tour operations in order to attract tourists.

Ecotourism agency in Chiang Mai
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Ecotourism Policies in Thailand

• Policy and Strategy on the development of
  infrastructure and tourism services
• To supply adequate basic infrastructure and
  services in ecotourism areas.

Lai Sue Thai Museum
A broken bridge in Sukho Thai
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Ecotourism Policies in Thailand

• Policy and Strategy on investment
• To facilitate investment by small proprietors
  and local communities through providing support
  in terms of service quality, environment
  conservation and competitive capabilities.

Accommodation managed by Chinese community in Pai
Hill trip in Walking Street in Pai
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Initiatives of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Mass Campaign Program
• There are three projects
• -meetings between community leaders and people
• -tourism training courses for hill tribes
• -seminars on The Direction of Tourism
  Developing

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Initiatives of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Personnel Development Program
• There are three projects
• - a training course for guides to increase their
  knowledge
• - a training course for mahouts and punters
• - promoting volunteer assistance to tourists

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Initiatives of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Public Relations Program
• There are two projects
• - issuing press releases
• - inviting the media to tourist attractions

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Initiatives of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Handicraft Promotion Program
• There is a project on promotion of souvenirs

Walking Street in Chiang Mai
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Initiatives of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Marketing Promotion Program
• There are two projects
• - getting private businesses to participate in
• the International Travel Show
• - organizing a natural journey

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Initiatives of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Cultural Conservation Program
• There is a project to conserve an ancient house
  and culture

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SWOT Analysis of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Strength
• High of potentials

Elephant riding in Chiang Mai
Pra Nang Bay in Krabi
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SWOT Analysis of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Weakness
• Lack of proper management plans and guidelines
• Weakness in marketing
• Lack of partnership programs

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SWOT Analysis of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Opportunity
• Increasing of interest in new trends of tourism

Foreigners Tourists in Sukho Thai
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SWOT Analysis of Ecotourism in Thailand

• Threat
• Misunderstood of concepts

Souvenirs shop in Surathani
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Arguments

• Can mass tourism be ecotourism at the same time?
• Yes, depends on capability and management
  systems.
• No, the more people the more impacts specially
  natural tourist attraction.

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Arguments

• only natural tourism attritions can be ecotourism
• Ecotourism concept can be used in other kinds of
  tourism as long as there are 3 concepts
  education, conservation, and local participate

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Study aboard and Ecotourism

• Education

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Study aboard and Ecotourism
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Study aboard and Ecotourism
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Study aboard and Ecotourism

• Local Participation

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Study aboard and Ecotourism
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Conclusion

• The overall goal of ecotourism development in
  Thailand is to develop sustainable industry, to
  maintain a healthy natural and social
  environment, and to foster self-reliance. Because
  ecotourism involves the management of natural
  resources, socio-development, community
  participation and general betterment of human
  life styles, policies relating to all these
  matters have to be considered together and each
  has to be influenced for the better. The related
  policies are in the fields of environment,
  forestry and resource management sustainable
  tourism socio-economic development, community
  participation and human development.

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Conclusion

• However, the standard of ecotourism services is
  still low. At present,
• ecotourism operators have, in general, not
  reached the required
• standard and there is a great need for
  instruction and support by the
• relevant agencies. Moreover, most of the
  existing focus is on
• adventure travel and nature appreciation rather
  than the more serious
• educational aspects of travel in a natural and
  cultural setting. The
• latter would have greater impact on the goal of
  promoting
• sustainability. Several ecotourism attractions
  are not ready to take
• tourists because of the lack of proper promotion
  and management.

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Thank you