Responsible Tourism in Thailand
Encyclopedia
Responsible Tourism is a relatively modern concept in the kingdom of Thailand, that took root in the late 1990s. It is underpinned by the belief that tourism should develop in a manner that minimizes negative impacts on local communities, and wherever possible ensure that a positive symbiosis exist between hosts and visitors. Responsible travel promotes a respect for indigenous culture, the minimization of the negative environmental impacts of tourism,
active participation in volunteering to assist local communities, and the structuring of businesses to benefit the final service provider rather than an international agent.
star hotels that are recognized as global leaders in the hospitality field. The tendency to support and promote responsible tourism in the nation was aligned to the development of environmental concern over the ravages often caused by tourism both within Thailand and abroad.
The tourism sector in Thailand was designated as a flagship programme of the Greater Mekong Subregion's Economic Cooperation Program, noting that it could improve socio-economic development and conservation of the kingdom's natural and cultural heritage. This strategy was devised with assistance from the Asian Development Bank. Specifically, the objectives of the strategy are to add to the tourism development efforts of each country, by fostering a sustainable tourism
development approach, by contributing to poverty reduction, gender equality and empowerment of women, while minimizing any adverse impacts.
of natural resources.
active participation in volunteering to assist local communities, and the structuring of businesses to benefit the final service provider rather than an international agent.
Evolution
Inbound tourism to Thailand developed exponentially over the last four decades into a mainstay of the Thai economy. The tourism industry in Thailand today is diverse, offering a broad spectrum of services and accommodation acrtoss the kingdom, ranging from grass-thatched bungalows through to international fivestar hotels that are recognized as global leaders in the hospitality field. The tendency to support and promote responsible tourism in the nation was aligned to the development of environmental concern over the ravages often caused by tourism both within Thailand and abroad.
Promotion of Responsible Tourism in Thailand
In July 2009, the German Ambassador to Thailand, Hanns Schumacher, noted "Investment in eco-friendly tourism is the only way to create sustainable income in tourism. In some cases, the ecological destruction could cost much more to repair than the investment to prevent it." His comments reflected the impressions of many visitors to the country who witness a lack of proper waste management, poorly managed water supply and sanitation, and construction that damages the environment.The tourism sector in Thailand was designated as a flagship programme of the Greater Mekong Subregion's Economic Cooperation Program, noting that it could improve socio-economic development and conservation of the kingdom's natural and cultural heritage. This strategy was devised with assistance from the Asian Development Bank. Specifically, the objectives of the strategy are to add to the tourism development efforts of each country, by fostering a sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is tourism attempting to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate future employment for local people. The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the...
development approach, by contributing to poverty reduction, gender equality and empowerment of women, while minimizing any adverse impacts.
Responsible Tourism and the Thai Sufficiency Economy
The fundamental factors of responsible - or sustainable - tourism in Thailand are readily understood within the country to reflect the monarch's concept of a Thailand sufficiency economy with its emphasis on moderate, self-dependent life without greed or overexploitationOverexploitation
Overexploitation, also called overharvesting, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Sustained overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource...
of natural resources.