D
Dave The Dude
Guest
Expert sees crucial need for 'responsible tourism'
By Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation
In Thailand, tourism plays a vital role in socio-economic development. It has generated huge revenue over the years but, due to the irresponsibility of many of its stakeholders, the industry has also created many problems for the country.
A tourism expert recently urged the authorities to change the way tourism is promoted to be more responsible in order to reduce problems related to the environment and people, and better preserve the country's natural attractions.
The starting point should be the boosting of students' awareness of "responsible tourism", while researchers should undertake studies in local communities to find suitable ways to ease problems, said Kannapa Pongponrat, a lecturer in the Travel Industry Management Division at Mahidol University International College.
Wikipedia defines "responsible tourism" as tourism that creates better places for people to live in, and better places to visit.
Kannapa said responsible tourism required commitment to local employment and products, respecting local cultures, protection of natural areas, efficient use of resources, responsible waste management and commitment to formal responsible-tourism programmes, including green policies and certification.
"The trend to community tourism has been popular in Thailand. We have many good places for tourists to explore, but many popular destinations, like Amphawa floating market and Pai district [in Mae Hong Son province], have been ruined," she said.
Kannapa said stakeholders, especially business people, should understand their roles and responsibilities clearly. They had to look at the possible effects of their decisions or performance, and means thinking beyond their business.
Evaluation and publicity were the most important parts of responsible tourism, she added. Before carrying out any tourism projects, agencies should organise publicity and listen seriously to the opinions of locals who may be affected - then adjust them, if necessary to overcome community opposition.
That way, they would be open-minded and evaluate projects to establish the causes of any problems and the best way to solve them.
Kannapa said her experience in arranging publicity for a wastewater management project on Phi Phi Island in Phuket province had made her realise the importance of genuine publicity.
"Previously, most of the locals did not want the wastewater management system, as we hadn't asked what the majority of the people felt about it. They didn't know how useful it would be for them. So, later we decided to explain the project to the majority, and now they are helping us to take care of it."
People who focus only on the benefits of a project for themselves were a big obstacle to efforts to practise responsible tourism, as they ignored the key issue of responsibility, the lecturer said.
Kannapa, therefore, tries to instil a sense of "responsible consciousness" in her students, who she hopes will then grow up and become responsible business decision-makers. "I let my students think about what is needed to operate as a responsible tourism venture, rather than just telling them what they should do."
"As a researcher, I want to call on other researchers to conduct active research - to approach local people and businesses at tourist destinations which could end up ruined, in order to find out the real causes of problems from them. Then, point out how to handle the problems properly by creating action plans for them.
"Many researchers don't understand the context of local communities because they have not approached the people, and they have not implemented their research findings with those communities," she said.
Responsible tourism is fast becoming a global trend. Many operators, destinations and industry organisations in South Africa, the UK, the US, Gambia, India and Sri Lanka already practise responsible tourism, and this list is growing.
Thailand has started practising the concept, Kannapa said, but it would take a long time to build people's awareness, whereas in Western countries - like the UK - they had already successfully boosted consciousness. In the West, they are now reaching the next step of focusing on developing responsible technology, like clean energy and products.
Kannapa has often been invited to deliver speeches abroad on responsible tourism, including in Japan, Greece, Peru, Turkey and Laos.
The lecturer has carried out action research with foreign researchers to seek resolutions for wastewater management on Phi Phi Island and garbage management in Phitsanulok. She is planning a new study to solve problems related to community tourism.
"The Thai government, hotel and tourism associations haven't seen responsible tourism as a priority, while many foreign countries have paid more attention to the issue in order to make tourism sustainable. If they invite me to give them ideas about the issue to develop tourism, I will do so, but none of them has contacted me yet," she said.
-- The Nation 2010-07-27
By Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation
In Thailand, tourism plays a vital role in socio-economic development. It has generated huge revenue over the years but, due to the irresponsibility of many of its stakeholders, the industry has also created many problems for the country.
A tourism expert recently urged the authorities to change the way tourism is promoted to be more responsible in order to reduce problems related to the environment and people, and better preserve the country's natural attractions.
The starting point should be the boosting of students' awareness of "responsible tourism", while researchers should undertake studies in local communities to find suitable ways to ease problems, said Kannapa Pongponrat, a lecturer in the Travel Industry Management Division at Mahidol University International College.
Wikipedia defines "responsible tourism" as tourism that creates better places for people to live in, and better places to visit.
Kannapa said responsible tourism required commitment to local employment and products, respecting local cultures, protection of natural areas, efficient use of resources, responsible waste management and commitment to formal responsible-tourism programmes, including green policies and certification.
"The trend to community tourism has been popular in Thailand. We have many good places for tourists to explore, but many popular destinations, like Amphawa floating market and Pai district [in Mae Hong Son province], have been ruined," she said.
Kannapa said stakeholders, especially business people, should understand their roles and responsibilities clearly. They had to look at the possible effects of their decisions or performance, and means thinking beyond their business.
Evaluation and publicity were the most important parts of responsible tourism, she added. Before carrying out any tourism projects, agencies should organise publicity and listen seriously to the opinions of locals who may be affected - then adjust them, if necessary to overcome community opposition.
That way, they would be open-minded and evaluate projects to establish the causes of any problems and the best way to solve them.
Kannapa said her experience in arranging publicity for a wastewater management project on Phi Phi Island in Phuket province had made her realise the importance of genuine publicity.
"Previously, most of the locals did not want the wastewater management system, as we hadn't asked what the majority of the people felt about it. They didn't know how useful it would be for them. So, later we decided to explain the project to the majority, and now they are helping us to take care of it."
People who focus only on the benefits of a project for themselves were a big obstacle to efforts to practise responsible tourism, as they ignored the key issue of responsibility, the lecturer said.
Kannapa, therefore, tries to instil a sense of "responsible consciousness" in her students, who she hopes will then grow up and become responsible business decision-makers. "I let my students think about what is needed to operate as a responsible tourism venture, rather than just telling them what they should do."
"As a researcher, I want to call on other researchers to conduct active research - to approach local people and businesses at tourist destinations which could end up ruined, in order to find out the real causes of problems from them. Then, point out how to handle the problems properly by creating action plans for them.
"Many researchers don't understand the context of local communities because they have not approached the people, and they have not implemented their research findings with those communities," she said.
Responsible tourism is fast becoming a global trend. Many operators, destinations and industry organisations in South Africa, the UK, the US, Gambia, India and Sri Lanka already practise responsible tourism, and this list is growing.
Thailand has started practising the concept, Kannapa said, but it would take a long time to build people's awareness, whereas in Western countries - like the UK - they had already successfully boosted consciousness. In the West, they are now reaching the next step of focusing on developing responsible technology, like clean energy and products.
Kannapa has often been invited to deliver speeches abroad on responsible tourism, including in Japan, Greece, Peru, Turkey and Laos.
The lecturer has carried out action research with foreign researchers to seek resolutions for wastewater management on Phi Phi Island and garbage management in Phitsanulok. She is planning a new study to solve problems related to community tourism.
"The Thai government, hotel and tourism associations haven't seen responsible tourism as a priority, while many foreign countries have paid more attention to the issue in order to make tourism sustainable. If they invite me to give them ideas about the issue to develop tourism, I will do so, but none of them has contacted me yet," she said.
-- The Nation 2010-07-27
