Bangkok, 19 December 2016 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined forces with public and private sector organisations to showcase the potential of 10 Thai communities as venues for Corporate Social Responsible (CSR) schemes. The “Village to the World” programme will invite companies to take part in volunteer activities that could generate at least a million baht of income for each village in 2017.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT governor said, “Big businesses are often looking for the chance to enhance their brand by giving a little back. The ‘Village to the World’ programme will help companies do this while boosting local communities via tourism and related CSR activities. Each village and community in Thailand can offer something unique to visitors and we want to help them promote their unique selling points so that they can generate income in a sustainable manner.”
The first stage of the “Village to the World” programme is to introduce CSR groups to rural communities which have been specially selected. To qualify, the communities must offer activities that volunteers can take part in. They also have to give visitors the chance to experience a rural way of life and to find out what makes these different communities unique. These will be promoted in online campaign under the name “MEET IN THE VILLAGE” and #Best CSR Outing Ever.
TAT has so far selected 10 communities, each with an annual revenue of less than one million baht, to join the scheme. Many of these communities are not familiar to tourists but boast fascinating cultures and unique ways of life.
Three of these communities are based in the North; two in the Northeast; three in Central Thailand and two in the South. These are:
• Ban Rai Kong Khing community, Chiang Mai
• Mueang Kao Community, Sukhothai
• Phra Baht Huai Tom Community, Lamphun
• Koo Ka Sing Community, Roi Et
• Baan Khok Kong Community, Kalasin
• Ban Dong Yen Community, Suphan Buri
• Ban Tham Sua Homestay, Petchburi
• Ban Rim Klong Homstay, Samut Songkram
• Leelet Community, Surat Thani
• Rawai Community Enterprise, Phuket
Village to the World is being jointly arranged by TAT, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and the Association of Thai Tour Operators.
Several public and private organisations and SET-listed companies have been approached to join the “Village to the World” programme and to take part in CSR schemes. These include PTT; Thai Beverage; Muang Thai Insurance; Tipco Foods; CAT Telecom; and Safari World.
Companies in Thailand’s industrial states have also been asked to look into undertaking CSR packages and the scheme will soon be rolled out to include companies overseas.
“We want tourism and related activities to really benefit local people and give them a new source of income and pride. This ‘Village to the World’ programme will allow villages off the beaten track to show off their unique Thainess while looking forward to a brighter future,” said, Mr. Yuthasak.
