#RESPONSIBLETOURISM
A helping hand Supporting Thai enterprises during your travels is one way to ensure your tourist baht is being used for good, staying local and addressing social problems. By Julie Miller
From top-end resorts to humble coffee shops, here are six socially responsible experiences in Thailand making a difference by encouraging tourists to be a force for change.
1.
RIDE TO PROVIDE
Ride to Provide’s epic long-distance guided bike ride provides funding for the remarkable Hands Across the Water charity. A new ride has been announced for 2023, covering 800 scenic kilometres along the Gulf of Thailand in eight days.
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2.
CABBAGES AND CONDOMS
One of Thailand’s original social enterprises, dating from the 1970s, Cabbages and Condoms is a restaurant chain with outlets across the country, with proceeds funding sexual health education, family planning and sustainability programs. With the cheeky motto “our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy”, it’s unsurprising the quirky restaurants serve traditional Thai fare alongside bold decorations with condomadorned mannequins.
3.
HU CHAISAI P MOUNTAIN RESORT
Giving back to the local community while preserving traditions and reuniting with nature is the mantra of this boutique five-star resort nestled in the forest-cloaked Doi Mae Salong Mountains of northern Thailand. It’s owned by a Thai designer of royal heritage, and experiences offered to guests include giving merit to local monks on horseback, visiting the resort’s tea plantation and learning about organic gardening.
