A new kind of tourism for Thailand:

Sustainable Destination Showcase
Since rebuilding their lives after the tsunami, some villagers in rural Thailand are using tourism as a tool for community development. One such project, Andaman Discoveries, is based in villages along the North Andaman Coast that were among the most severely affected. With the assistance of international volunteers, villagers now offer homestays, day tours, and other activities – allowing visitors to participate in the traditional way of life that so often eludes the casual tourist.

As she guides a group through the village, Chim, a local villager, explains, “The tsunami was a terrible thing, but it also helped us to open our minds to new opportunities. We are now ready to welcome the world, and share our way of life with respectful visitors.”

Unusually, the new opportunities have been created by and for the community, allowing progress to coexist with the traditional fishing culture. A village committee approached tsunami relief groups and requested assistance in developing community-based tourism, leading to the formation of Andaman Discoveries – a non-profit dedicated to linking development and tourism in tsunami affected villages.

As a result of its groundbreaking efforts, Andaman Discoveries was awarded overall winner of the Best for Preservation of Cultural Heritage in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, the biggest of its kind in the world and came second in the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award for Community or Family-run Homestays.

“Andaman Discoveries has recognized that the best custodians of cultural heritage are the local people and they have worked with communities to empower them,” said Justin Francis, Director of Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards. The awards are organized by online travel agent responsibletravel.com, in association with The Times and the magazine of The Royal Geographical Society.

When asked what she has learned from her experience in Tung Nang Dam village, Chim declares, “We understand how to connect tourism with our culture, and in way that makes our village strong by supporting needs such as children’s activities, a community center, orchid conservation, and waste management awareness.”

Tourism, as Chim sees it, is complex – its inevitable spread across Southern Thailand has led to great economic benefit, but also to cultural and environmental degradation. With resorts rebuilding and guests returning after the tsunami, Chim and other villagers are determined to use tourism as a tool for community development.

Andaman Discoveries:
Based in Thailand, two and a half hours north of Phuket, Andaman Discoveries enables self-sufficiency and autonomy in the area of community-based tourism and community-led development. Andaman Discoveries acts as the bridge to connect communities who want to participate in tourism and those people or volunteers who want to experience traditional lifestyles and pristine eco-systems, away from traditional touristy destinations. Andaman Discoveries provides local people with a complimentary source of income while still continuing their traditional way of life and natural environment. When supporting Andaman Discoveries, you give villagers the chance to participate in tourism, bringing empowerment, unity and identity amongst the community. Eighty percent of each trips goes straight back into the community and includes a donation to a community fund to allow the whole village to benefit from tourism, not only those directly involved with the guests.

Valere Tjolle