#COMMUNITY #ENRICHING
The power
of
community As Thailand reopens to tourists, supporting community initiatives is the key to sustaining traditions and bolstering local economies. By Julie Miller
A R E N E W E D F O C U S O N S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y H A S seen the rise of community tourism experiences in Thailand, a mutually beneficial arrangement with visitors keen to make a positive impact on the environments they visit. Over the past decade, many destination management companies (DMCs) – from global bigwigs such as G Adventures and World Expeditions to smaller, region-based companies – have incorporated tours that support local initiatives into their portfolios. Some communities, however, have chosen to cut out the middleman and create their own successful tourist ventures, offering full immersion with homestays and cultural projects. 18 } v a c a t i o n s t r a v e l . c o m
