Community-based tourism is seen as a key to developing the economy of less-travelled areas. It is tourism by local communities to enable visitors' learning in consideration of environmental, social and cultural sustainability. Recently, a total of 120 representatives of community-based tourism groups gathered at a seminar to learn and share opinions on tourism management that emphasises learning and value adding.
At the event, which was hosted by the Tourism Division under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, Rapeepat Ketkosol, chief of BMA's Tourism Development Subdivision, praised Nang Loeng community of Pomprap Sattruphai district and tambon Hua Takhae of Lat Krabang district for their good concepts, objectives, work methods and procedures.
Nang Loeng was once Bangkok's hub for the Thai traditional performance art called lakhon chatri. It is also a centre of performing arts and a food paradise.
Suwan Waewployngam, a Nang Loeng community leader, said she has seen the positive development of her community over the past decade. Local adults and youngsters regularly conduct and attend workshops, such as learning Thai classical dance at Ban Silpa, a centre of activities. A community-guide programme encourages local youngsters to learn about their own neighbourhood and good things there. As a result, these children have become more responsible and self-confident.
Rapeepat, who is also secretary of the Thai Tourism Society, suggested improvements for Nang Loeng through enhancing the quality of human resources through training and study trips; creating databases and sources of knowledge; improving signage and maps, and arranging for local tourism and cultural promotion activities.
At Hua Takhae, community-based tourism is supported by the public, private and people's sectors as well as educational institutes. Many more locals have taken part in tourism in and around Hua Takhae Market. A number of lecturers and students of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and the College of Fine Arts have collaborated with local residents to conduct art workshops and activities at the market. The college also opens its door for tourists to visit.
In Bang Lamphu, community-based tourism has continued for almost two decades by several groups of different generations. The 16-year-old Kesorn Lamphu Club for youth trains local children to be volunteer event organisers and tour guides. Today, four-five teenagers from the group work as volunteer guides for community tours while the Prachakhom Fuenfu Bang Lamphu group focuses on the cleanliness of Klong Bang Lamphu.
Currently, Bangkok has about 25 groups of community-based tourism volunteers, some of which are joined by a number of hotels and tour guides. Youth groups, such as members of Kesorn Lamphu, have free time to volunteer on weekends and public holidays while other groups of highly experienced members have full-time jobs but work as tourism volunteers, such as the late Anucha Kua-charoon, co-founder of Trok Khao Mao Local Museum in Bangkok Noi district.
The BMA has long been assisting community-based tourism groups by providing coaching and helping them to mete out tourism projects. A new project involves designing 21 tour routes in seven areas, including Ban Bu, Nang Loeng and Hua Takhae.
According to the seminar, which quoted the Thailand Community Based Tourism Institute (CBT-I), community-based tourism is a tool for boosting the strength of community organisations for natural resources and cultural management through local people's participation and sense of ownership. It yields concrete benefits for communities. It entertains and allows tourists to learn and exchange knowledge with locals. It also promotes community development and natural resources and environmental conservation and enables tourists to meet local people and experience the local ways of life.
Also at the seminar, participants discussed how to increase the value of local products. Case studies were Mo Waan herbal drugstore near the Giant Swing and the Artist House At Klong Bang Luang in Thon Buri.
Pasinee Yanothai, co-owner of Mo Waan drugstore, recalled that she as a great-granddaughter of Mo Waan, a traditional medicine practitioner, revamped the business under the concept of creative economy and cultural assets after the store had only about 20 elderly customers remaining a decade ago.
The store is outstanding for its over 100 traditional medicinal recipes, especially ya hom (tonic medicines), and its European-style building and equipment but Thai-style medicines, labels and signs. To attract more customers, it improved product packaging and presentation and also opted for selling its products at some museums.
"Now, ya hom from our four special recipes is used by many more people, including the young generation. More tourists, such as those on bicycle tours, visit our store and see the demonstration of ya hom making," she said.
Meanwhile, Chumphol Akphanthanon, owner of the Artist House At Klong Bang Luang, or Ban Silapin, said he bought an old wooden house for 1.8 million baht years ago, spent over 3 million baht on the restoration and turned it into a tourist attraction to promote community-based tourism that requires local people's respect for community rules as well as activities for tourists to experience the local ways of life.
The seminar also mentioned the sharply declining popularity of lakhon chatri from Nang Loeng because the audience prefers a more modern form of performing arts. Hence, the participants discussed ways to support cultural heritage in local communities.
