community based tourism as a tool for community development and coastal
DESCRIPTION
GEC 2007: Peter E. Richards, Marketing Manager, The Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project (REST) - Community based Tourism as a tool for community development and coastal resource management: A case study of Leeled Community, Surrathani province, ThailandTRANSCRIPT
“Community based Tourism as a tool for community development and coastal resource management: A case study of Leeled Sub-
district, 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
EU CHARM Project – 2002 – 2007 “To promote Sustainable Coastal Resource Management by organizational strengthening at different levels of government and promoting co-managementworking processes between stakeholders.”
Background: CHARM Coastal Habitats and Resource Management
Establish dialogue and communication throughout the governing process, primarily through the development of self-organizing networks between organizations and communities.
Assumption: “The most important aspect of inefficient use of coastal resources lies at the institutional level.”
Partnership / co-management: government agencies, NGOs, scientific institution. Area base: 50% of 5 provinces.
““Develop and implement CBT models Develop and implement CBT models
suitable for sustainable development suitable for sustainable development
in coastal zone communities in Southern Thailandin coastal zone communities in Southern Thailand””
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.
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
Introduce CBT / Project to the community
Community analyze strengths & weaknesses “Our Good Things”- nature/ people/ culture
Identify appropriate communities / Feasibility study – Project + Marketing
Preparation Process (8 Months)
‘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 ☺☺☺☺
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
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... ?
CBT Club - Skills, Knowledge, Commitment
Pilot tour – good feedback from guests
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 – Field Work
Marketing Training,Selected Marketing, Pilot Partnerships, Info - Guests & Guides
Practice,Practice,Practice.
Years 2 & 3– and Marketing
CHN
Years 2 & 3– and Monitoring
Keep away from the
Conservation Area!
How did the community feel about Intrepid
Trips?
Provincial Level Advisory Board
Diverse network of professionals, knowledge, skills, status, Contacts... Study Trip / Training – CBT Concept, Process, Product, Marketing
Catalyzed cooperation and Commitment from TAOs, local groups, schools, Lobbied for support / resource coordination , etc.
““CoCo--managementmanagement””
TAO
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, LeeledCBT Group“It has 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
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
Results – Co-management / Replication
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)
Lessons Learned – Success Factors
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.