Thai island community wins first-ever award for responsible tourism
A community-based tourism project in Southern Thailand – visited on an Asian Trails’ tour – has been presented with a prestigious responsible tourism award at the World Travel Market in London.
The accolade recognises the Baan Bang Rong community’s sustainable approach in the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s ‘Responsible Community Tourism’ category. Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr Sorawong Thienthong, presented the prize at the travel show.
A visit to this community on the beautiful north-east coast of Phuket reveals a different side to the resort island – away from the popular beaches and nightlife.
Asian Trails’ guests can help to safeguard the coastline by planting seagrass and mangroves. This intervention lessens erosion and provides a sanctuary for crabs to lay their eggs in a safer environment as they get greater protection from predatory fish. The excursion also involves clearing the mangroves of refuse, including harmful plastic, polystyrene and discarded fish nets.
Rejuvenating an environment harmed by over exposure to detrimental human activities has already yielded positive results with the arrival of dugongs in the sea – a positive sign of the local marine environment’s restoration.
Our tour includes a visit to a pineapple farm, a rubber tapping plantation, a crab conservation project and a coconut garden so tourists can understand how locals maximise resources from the natural environment through a low-impact approach.
Phaitoon Pantip, Asian Trails’ MICE and Product Manager for Southern Thailand, said: “This excursion is a perfect combination of humans, nature, culture and tradition.
“The tour promotes sustainable tourism, while also preserving Phuket’s cultural heritage and age-old practices. Guests experience local cuisine and a traditional lifestyle off the tourist trail, providing them with a different perspective of Phuket, away from the resorts and nightlife.”
Asian Trails has a deep commitment to ethical tourism and the delivery of sustainable tours in all of our destinations so we can jointly contribute to the protection of fragile eco-systems, raise awareness about environmental conservation and benefit host communities.
For further details about our tour to Baan Bang Rong, view the full itinerary or contact our team at Asian Trails Thailand
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