“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.

www.rest.or.th

rest@asiaaccess.net.th

www.charmproject.org