From Relief to Self-Reliance

Developing community-based tourism in tsunami-hit villages
Sector
Biodiversity
e_country
Thailand

Relief to Self Reliance, a project involving Andaman Discoveries as one of the partners, will expand employment opportunities, strengthen local economic and cultural activity and promote sustainable resource management through community-based tourism (CBT) in an area of Thailand severely impacted by the 2004 Tsunami.

Andaman Discoveries offers responsible tours and volunteer placements in the community, creating numerous employment opportunities through activities such as home-stays, handicrafts production and guided tours. The organisation grew from an NGO with a strong track record of work in Thailand’s tsunami-hit communities. All activities such as eco tours, interactive handicraft workshops, cultural exchanges and volunteering were developed in collaboration with the villagers. A compulsory 20% donation from visitors and volunteers will support local projects such as community education, handicraft marketing, recycling, and youth-led conservation programmes.

The initiative currently works with three villages on the North Andaman coast. The partnership’s aims are to increase the number of customers and activities offered, ultimately transforming from a non-profit organisation into a self-sustaining business.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
This initiative creates employment opportunities as well as protecting the environment by promoting community-based tourism in tsunami-hit villages.
  • Supporting local projects such as community education, handicraft marketing, recycling, and youth-led conservation programmes with donation from visitors and volunteers. 
  • Promoting eco-tourism to protect natural habitats and pristine environments.

 

  • Creating numerous employment opportunities through activities such as home-stays, handicraft production, and guiding.

Partners

Tsunami-affected communities on the Andaman coast plan to expand employment opportunities through community-based tourism while the proceeds will support local projects such as marketing of handicrafts, a community centre, recycling, and youth-led conservation programmes.

Andaman Discoveries: a citizen sector organisation which ensures the sustainability of community-based tourism in Ban Talae Nok and Tung Nang Dam. www.andamandiscoveries.com

Ecotourism Club of Ban Talae Nok: coordinates all CBT activities in the village Ban Talae Nok.

Tourism Authority of Thailand: promotes tourism in both domestic and international markets. www.tat.or.th

Soap Cooperative of Ban Talae Nok: AndamanDiscoveries offers soap making workshops to visitors and assists the cooperative in marketing and promotion. www.tsunamicrafts.com

Tung Nang Dam Community Tourism Group (local cooperative): coordinates all CBT activities in the village Tung Nang Dam.

Go Differently: a responsible travel company that offers tours that benefit both travellers and local communities. www.godifferently.com

ReefCheck Thailand (NGO): monitors and surveys coral reef around the world and provide advice to manage and conserve the marine environment.www.reefcheck.org

Mangrove Action Project (NGO): provides conservation training and environmental education for villagers to safeguard natural resources for future generations. www.dnp.go.th