The 2007 Thailand Tourism Awards is a special edition of the biennial tourism awards programme initiated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in 1996. These new awards are being launched as a tribute in honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, of Thailand on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty’s 80th birthday anniversary in December 2007. The awards presentation ceremony will be held in the same month.
The Most Outstanding Community-based Tourism Award is one of two award categories featured in the 2007 Thailand Tourism Awards. The awards are designed to promote the conservation of the country’s precious natural and cultural resources and support sustainable tourism development in tandem with the quality development of the Thai tourism industry.
Sustainable community-based tourism is valued for its effectiveness in channelling tourism revenue to grassroots communities, thereby alleviating rural poverty.
Entries for The Most Outstanding Community-Based Tourism Awards were judged on the following criteria.
- The community embraces the principles of a ‘sufficiency economy’ as advocated by His Majesty the King. The concept is the guiding principle adopted by community leaders and members of the community in the administration and management of the community. It is also reflected in the local way of life.
- Tourism potential, readiness and carrying capacity
The community is easily accessible and has adequate basic infrastructure to support the needs and expectations of quality visitors and is able to support sustainable community tourism development in a balanced way.
- The community offers a diverse range of tourism-related activities to promote meaningful exchange between guests and members of the host community.
- Effectiveness in the management and administration of its tourism assets and resources, natural and cultural
Evaluations for The Most Outstanding Community-based Tourism Award were made based on site inspections and observations, one-on-one interviews with judges and, in some cases, the conduct of focus groups. Out of a total of 183 entires received, a total of 62 communities were selected as winners. These are communities with considerable potential to offer outstanding community-based tourism experiences incorporating natural beauty, local culture, traditions and way of life.
The Office of Tourism Development of Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports and TAT are leading the way in the development of exceptional community-based tourism as one of Thailand’s new tourism products.
The Most Outstanding Community-based Tourism award category recognizes growing interest in educational travel — a new and expanding niche market for the travel industry worldwide. Today’s travellers are no longer fulfilled by getting on a tour bus. They want to interact with a host community. They want to go and learn something — to feel and touch. Thailand is seeing more and more travellers who want to expand their horizons and perspectives, to have a life-changing experience.
Communities are the critical building blocks in achieving a harmonious balance between sustainable development and environmental protection and conservation. As the custodians of natural and cultural resources — key tourism assets — found in each community, residents of the host community need to be actively involved in effectiveresource management as well as the delivery of community-based tourism products and services.
Paving the way for sustainable community-based tourism development should also involve the revival and perpetuation of local culture, traditions and way of life. The host community will also need to work in coordination with external parties. However, it is imperative that community-based tourism evolves in accordance with local needs and expectations and that its cultural integrity remains intact. At the end of the process, all parties involved — tourists, the host community as well as tour operators — should share in the benefits generated by sustainable community-based tourism.
Community-based tourism creates a better balance between tourism development and marketing and is very much in line with the new tourism policy adopted by the Royal Thai Government. This focuses more on quality tourism, moving away from mass tourism. The policy places much greater emphasis on yield and expenditure per visitor than on total visitor arrivals.
The Thailand Tourism Award is Thailand's 'Hallmark of Excellence' — a symbol of assurance in the outstanding quality and reliability of tourism products and services offered by a particular organization, operator or community. The distinguished awards recognize the finest achievements and outstanding contributions to Thai tourism. They honour innovation and creativity in the fields of sustainable tourism, conservation and environmental protection.
WINNERS OF THE 2007 THAILAND TOURISM AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM
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