Community Based Tourism Network

On 25-27 of June 2008, GVI was invited to attend a seminar for the region's Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Network on the island of Ko Yao Noi. GVI Thailand Country Director, Jill Walker and Thailand NSP (National Scholarship Program recipient), Marut Promchua attended as representatives for GVI. Attending the 3 day seminar were communities from Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, and Trang provinces interested in developing CBT in their own communities. CBT refers to a special kind of tourism in which the community themselves organize and run tourism in their own community, while simulataneously living their normal lives and preserving their own unique cultural identity. CBT activities in the Andaman region of Thailand often include home stays, Thai cooking, learning about harvesting rubber, fishing, batik, boat rides, kayaking, swimming and massage. The seminar was focused on presentations and activities to support communities in developing CBT as a means of sustainable development in their communities by allowing them to generate income while still preserving natural locations and their own culture.

One of the highlights of the seminar was having the opportunity to learn about and take part in Ko Yao Noi's successful CBT. Seminar attendees stayed in the village's homestays, ate meals prepared by the villagers and visited some of the local tourist locations.

GVI's participation in the seminar was a means of networking with communities that are need of English teachers or assistance in promoting their community's tourist programs. GVI Thailand is also particularly interested in working with local communities of Ao Luk to help them develop tourist programs and homestays.

Community Based Tourism Network