Friday, April 12, 2013

Discover Community Tourism, The Travelling Craze Sweeping Across Thailand

There's a new way of seeing the world which has inspired more and more travelers in recent years. Eco-tourism and 'voluntourism' have become by-words for more responsible travel in foreign climes, but even with good intentions, the benefits of short-term projects can vary. However, community tourism takes a more insightful approach, emphasizing local involvement and control of the tourist industry and creating employment and training opportunities for local people. Thailand is one country where this kind of holiday is really making a difference.

Rebuilding communities through tourism
One reason why there is such a community ethic in the tourist industry here is down to the after-effects of the 2004 tsunami disaster, which destroyed a great many lives and settlements on Thailand's southern coast. Disaster relief charities like NATR (North Andaman Tsunami Relief) were set up to re-build and create projects to help those affected and this not-for-profit organisation now runs as Andaman Discoveries, a holiday operator specializing in community-based tours.

Thailand's Andaman coast is a desirable holiday spot in itself, with long, creamy-white beaches, desert islands and underwater reefs. But trips to seaside villages like Ban Talae Nok have taken on a community-based aspect, thanks to home-stays in native villages, where visitors can enjoy home-cooked cuisine, learn traditional crafts or explore nearby jungle terrain. While travelers immerse themselves in the way of life here, the locals gain a sense of empowerment from bringing money into their community and rebuilding it themselves.

Holidays that give something back
To the north of the country, the Chiang Rai province may not have had the battle with the elements which affected the south, but residents of the mountain villages can and do benefit from the kind of tourism which gives back, rather than takes away. Many communities near places like Kiew Karn in the remote countryside are now directly involved in tourism, working in partnership with companies like Asian Oasis.

Villages provide locally-made bamboo and wood lodges for accommodation, rustle up mouth-watering alfresco meals and local guides take visitors trekking amongst the wild banana trees and remote trails. There are options including elephant rides, village tours and craft-making such as batik, along with the more typical holiday relaxation activities such as massages, all managed by the community.

Even if you've come to the heady sights and smells of Bangkok on your Thai holidays, community river cruises operate from the capital along the Chao Phraya River, up-cycling old rice barges to provide an authentic experience. Not only this, but the funds raised from the tour boats have been injected back into the bank-side settlements and local dwellings, many of which have been damaged by flooding in the past.

Community tourism certainly argues its case well, if the positive evidence in rural and coastal Thailand is anything to go by. These kinds of projects can enhance the mutually beneficial aspects of a holiday, generating local economy, preserving heritage and allowing travelers to learn and gain from their brief visit. As an alternative to the party towns of Phuket or an all-inclusive, Western-owned resort, community tourism is one craze worth sustaining.

If you’re finding yourself inspired by these unique holidays, head online to find your cheap Thailand flights.

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