“Community based Tourism as a tool for community development and coastal resource management: A case study of Leeled Subdistrict, Surrathani province, Southern Thailand � Mr. Peter Richards, Marketing Manager, The Responsible, Ecological, Social Tours Project (REST), Thailand The Global Ecotourism Conference, Oslo, Norway, May 2007.
Thai NGO...Background: Community Development, Volunteering & Participatory Training...
Today’s Presentation Challenges to coastal resource management Background – CHARM / REST / CHARM-REST Leeled Community Preparation for Community based Tourism Project development - Years 2 and 3 Results Lessons Learned / Recommendations / Challenges
Challenges to Coastal Resources: Southern Thailand 1980’s / 1990’s… huge changes Export-orientated industrial fishing Commercial shrimp farming Tourism development in coastal areas Largely unrestricted access to coastal resources Regulations easily evaded and poorly enforced Depletion / destruction of natural resources and encroachment on the territory of small fishers …social, economic & environmental impacts
Background: CHARM Coastal Habitats and Resource Management EU CHARM Project – 2002 – 2007 “To promote Sustainable Coastal Resource Management by organizational strengthening at different levels of government and promoting co-management working processes between stakeholders.” Assumption: “The most important aspect of inefficient use of coastal resources lies at the institutional level.” Establish dialogue and communication throughout the governing process, primarily through the development of selforganizing networks between organizations and communities. Partnership / co-management: government agencies, NGOs, scientific institution. Area base: 50% of 5 provinces.
Background: CHARM-REST Project
CHARM – Survey of CRM Tools Identified REST’s CBT Model in Koh Yao Noi as an effective tool to achieve participatory coastal resource management.
“Develop and implement CBT models suitable for sustainable development in coastal zone communities in Southern Thailand”
Leeled Sub District, Surrathani Province, Thailand 1 sub-district 8 Villages 2,760 Hectares 3,800 People Mouth of the Tapi River – watershed Mangroves, saltwater, hundreds of small streams Fishing, prawn fields, decline due to prawn illness
Preparation Process (8 Months) Identify appropriate communities / Feasibility study – Project + Marketing Introduce CBT / Project to the community Community analyze strengths & weaknesses “Our Good Things”- nature/ people / culture ‘Leeled CBT for Conservation Club’ Goals & Mechanisms, Program Design, Services, Staff Training… Pilot Tour
The Goals of CBT in Leeled Conservation and Coastal Resource Management To be well known and feel proud of ourselves Human Resource Development Community development Participation and Unity Cultural Exchange Additional Income To be Happy â˜ş
Leeled CBT Staff & Management 33 Members Club Coordination - 4 Homestay Unit – 13 Families Boat Unit – 11 boat drivers Car and Van Unit – 4 drivers Local Guides – 8
Services and Activities
Outputs from Pilot Year CBT Club - Skills, Knowledge, Commitment Pilot tour – good feedback from guests Challenge: still perceived as ‘just tourism.’ Question: “How can Community Based Tourism have a community-wide impact on local community development / coastal resource management attitudes / actions... ?
Years 2 & 3 – Field Work Project Field Staff & Specialist Trainers Defining the ‘CBT Club as Community and Conservation Workers’ in the community Environmental Education, Guide Training Waste Management, Green Product Development, Local Curriculum Conservation Zones Holistic, Coordinated, Integrated Approach
Years 2 & 3–
and Marketing
Marketing Training, Selected Marketing, Pilot Partnerships, Info - Guests & Guides
Practice, Practice, Practice.
Years 2 & 3– Keep away from the Conservation Area!
CHN
and Monitoring
How did the community feel about Intrepid Trips?
“Co-management”
Provincial Level Advisory Board Diverse network of professionals, knowledge, skills, status, Contacts... Study Trip / Training – CBT Concept, Process, Product, Marketing
TAO
Catalyzed cooperation and Commitment from TAOs, local groups, schools, Lobbied for support / resource coordination , etc.
Results – Conservation and CRM Enforced conservation area – 1 km from mangroves 800 Hectares of new mangrove growth Cleaner waterways, rubbish free Increased fish yields for local fishers CBT Fund: (47,275 Baht / More than 1000 Euros) Waste management camps in 8 villages CBT Guides at 10 youth environmental camps More environmental awareness among guests…
Results – Conservation and CRM
Results – Human Resource and Community Development, Participation, Unity, Pride.
New Skills, Knowledge, Self-Confidence Development of local leaders ‘Buy-in’ of natural resource management as a valid concept at grass-roots level New level of intra-community coordination to achieve CRM: Clubs / School / TAO Very high sense of local pride
Results – Human Resource and Community Development, Participation, Unity, Pride.
Results – Additional Income
2005 – 2006 1,152 Carefully Selected Tourists 336, 306 Baht Income 47,275 Thai Baht in Community Fund Higher catches for local fishers
Results – Host and Guest Satisfation
100% satisfied or very satisfied…
Intrepid Travel 3rd Year CHN 2nd Year EWC 2nd Year
Results – Host and Guest Satisfation “We really enjoyed having the student volunteers. It was the best group of the year. Other groups sometimes only stay for one night, so you don’t have enough time to get to know them, but this group was here for longer. In the end, it was great fun, more like family, and the group and students all cried when they went home at the end of the trip!” Baa Let, Leeled CBThas Group “It been an amazing experience that changes your perspective on the things that you do in everyday life… not only the tourists learn, but also the community itself…. The memory of this will stay with me for the rest of my life. I will be forever grateful for being able to participate in this program”. Helga Stepla, Volunteer through CHN University, Leurwarden, The Netherlands
Results – Co-management / Replication Cooperation between GO / NGO / CBO / PS Acceptance from Gov / outsiders –CBT for CRM Model of best practice participatory village tourism – Study Site Replication: Provincial strategy 13 sub-districts Model of CBT-Tour Op. Participatory Marketing
Lessons Learned – Success Factors Thorough Preparation Process, Participation Holistic /Integrated / coordinated approach Clear Focus HRD / CD / CRM not tourism or income Local leadership + enthusiastic local group Practice, monitor, evaluate, relate to original goals Field Worker / Training Expert (Product & Marketing) Consistent groups of selected tourists / study tours Local knowledge + academic knowledge Support from government / NGO (local – provincial)
Challenges Dealing with fame… more stakeholders, different and conflicting objectives? pressure? Media? Illegal fishers from outside are a becoming a threat! ‘Integrated approach’ can ‘tread on toes’ – needs a good facilitator with diplomatic skills! Coastal communities affect each other – need to work together to achieve sustainable CRM. Network mechanisms from community to provincial level… The sustainability of co-management relies a lot on buy in from individual government officers - often change position.
www.rest.or.th rest@asiaaccess.net.th www.charmproject.org