3. What are the four key points of destination management emphasized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria for Destinations (GTSC-D)? a. Demonstrating effective sustainable management, Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts, Maximizing cultural benefits and negative impacts to the host community and visitors, and Managing sustainable and efficient natural resource and environment b. Managing sustainable Community-Based tourism, Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts, Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors, and culture; minimizing negative impacts, and Maximizing benefits to the environment and minimizing negative impacts c. Demonstrating effective sustainable management, Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts, Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors, and culture; minimizing negative impacts, and Managing natural resource and environment d. Demonstrating effective sustainable management, Maximizing economic benefits to 4tWao.lbiWc.muco.o.rTrhimTtioTlsoasdomuumtourruTiifrsisnoisdsmtnimhmuteyoervddtdimsaeeeoermevvvlneoeeemaeplllOo’oobspmpppremrcmgmreisaenaeenpnncnnatttiticpzatiwhtltacyeahitcttaihoootefnnrpcssdaouu(riUnrtnsiesctNgsiaidpWietenaocrtaToisobtOnhnolt)ehem?oefic the host community and minimizing negative gddr.iosTwtrotiuhbruitsimondweivtehlionptmheenhtowstithcofmaimr uinncitoimese impacts, Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors, and culture; minimizing negative impacts, and Maximizing benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts 7
5-ad.acBnbHae.aoca.psoovmd.TsTafcoaew.ehrmhoeTptleAtdeiooudvochplkcenlpuioTeopilrcirnouometayrlygfbuubtscteemtuublhrmKhusnsia’inoeesnosebstnrsimm?ktvaiefttmoyheibbrsScCr.vnoeeaemmivcrlmcttuseeohooegbdbnuotrgewtorgnohtrrauiarlocfscygopfkehuoeu,eecpipmprsao,asmcaympocaloeomfhoapumactompirorantmtlt.mulmiiectreepyuiuiassnr’ttnnmmosaiioidyetCtbinyyuetusosctesmimtimnirsnvgtegemeoicomrsmouoesupneubbrengspteienihsr,tsrroeymusseutc5otphctt,oh. 6. What are Community-Based Tourism development strategies of Kok Sathon Community? a. Community-Based Tourism Club, training for the club’s committee, and monitoring of model community development b. Community-Based Tourism Club, training for the club’s committee, community assessment, and monitoring of model community development c. Community-Based Tourism Club, training for the club’s committee, and monitoring of the club’s performance d. Community-Based Tourism Club, training for the club’s committee, a model community project, and monitoring of the club’s performance 8
hp7er.roiHmtaogowtee?doaensd KcooknsSearthvoen itCsomcumltuunriatyl dacb.naa..dna.P.dPrHcraoucoonvolmwdtinduosirbdntea.iognlrevgdsieneafKsionttosrdinkmcapSautuitaloitbtounhlnisroca.inflzoihrCnegotromiiuttamsrgiusleotn?scitaaylt 8. What is not one of Kok Sathon promote Community’s solutions to food. environmental impacts? natural a. Listing and categorizing resources and attraction b. Posting visitor prohibition notices c. Determining agriculture, conservation, and tourism areas in collaboration with Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park d. Constructing a check dam in Phu Lom Lo and vicinity 9. What is one of Kok Sathon Community’s effective solutions to sustainability problems? a. Developing an emergency response plan for tourists with staff in charge b. Developing strategic plans for tourism development of Kok Sathon Community c. Settling an agreement and agreed regulations among Kok Sathon’s Community- Based Tourism Club and groups of tourism businesses d. Sponsoring the community’s public activities with 10 percent of its tourism revenue 10. What is one of Kok Sathon Community’s solutions to problems concerning environmental impacts? a. Developing a framework for intellectual property protection b. Developing a system to preserve and protect tourism destinations c. Posting visitor prohibition notices and determining area usage d. Organizing the tour bus system by imposing quality control on vehicles and drivers 9
Introduction “Sustainable tourism”, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is a tourism that takes full account of its natural resources, biodiversity, respects for the host communities’ cultures and local ways of life, and ensures a sustainable economic growth and stability with a fair income distribution. Four key principles for a sustainable tourism development are Tourism development should consider the limits of the area’s ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural capacity. Tourism development should encourage a participation of local residents. Visitors should be provided with informations about safety and health. Environmental and local cultural conservation should be focused on. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has established the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria for Destinations (GSTC-D) with four key points: Demonstrating effective sustainable management Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts 10
Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors, and culture; minimizing negative impacts Maximizing benefits to the environment and minimizing negative impacts Thailand has a tourism development plan based on the Twelve National Economic and Social Development Plan (2017-2021), Strategy for strengthening the Economy and Underpinning Sustainable Competitiveness. The tourism development plan highlights identities and uniquenesses of Thai local cultures. Projects included are One Tambon One Product-related tourism, tourism clusters development, and tourism Based on market demand such as Community-Based Tourism, health tourism, cultural tourism, etc. It also focuses on improving an administrative structure of the country’s tourism, and encouraging a participation of all sec- tors: public, private, educational, and civil in order to promote Thailand’s tourism industry and to help it grow with stability and sustainability with a fair benefit distribution. Therefore, so as to encourage learning about the sustainable Community-Based Tourism development through an example of a model community with a participative development plan, the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA has conducted a case study of ecotourism at Kok Sathon, Dan Sai District, Loei Province. It explores the community’s sustainable tourism management, Community-Based Tourism development, and problems and solutions regarding the issue. 11
Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA Main departments of DASTA, the Office of Community-Based Tourism (CBT) and the Office of Designated Area at Loei work together to encourage an effective collaboration among Kok Sathon’s community members and its tourism development team to sustainably develop tourism through a community-Based destination certification process for the Community-Based Tourism development. The scheme has three important elements: 1 Community-Based Tourism Certification Working Group includes staffs from tourism development agencies of different domains such as education, development organization, marketing, community, and local administration. 2 9+1 Building Blocks is a brainstorming tool for the community’s tourism development. 12
3 Community-Based Destination Management Criteria was developed from GSTC’s criteria and focuses on five key points: 1 Community-Based destination management 2 Socioeconomic and quality of life management 3 Cultural heritage conservation and promotion 4 Sustainable and efficient natural resource and environmental management 5 Safety and services Community-Based Destination Management Criteria is not only a model for DASTA’s sustainable Community-Based Tourism development, but it is also a tool to assess the sustainable Community-Based Tourism development and is a criterion for selecting DASTA’s CBT Award winners. To develop communities’ sustainable tourism, DASTA has requested communities to form “Community-Based Tourism Clubs” with a committee representing and selected by community members. Each club works as a center of the Community-Based Tourism management and carries out Community-Based tourism development activities of its community. DASTA currently has its offices in charge of sustainable tourism management in six designated areas: 1 Office of Designated Area at Chang Island and Vicinity 2 Office of Designated Area at Pattaya and Vicinity 3 Office of Designated Area at Historical Parks of Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai, and Kamphaengphet 4 Office of Designated Area at Loei 5 Office of Designated Area at Nan Old City 6 Office of Designate Area at U-thong Ancient City 13
Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria for Destinations: (GSTC-D) The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria is a guideline for sustainable tourism management agencies. It was designed and developed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GTSC). It is expected that the criteria is used by sustainable tourism management agencies in the following ways: as a standard guideline for tourism destinations aiming for sustainability as a guarantee of sustainable destinations for tourists as a source of information for the mass media to publicize sustainable destinations as a standard for quality certification programs as a standard guideline for the public sector, the private sector, and NGOs to develop sustainable tourism-related projects as a standard guideline for staff training and education program in organizations, for example, in a university. 14
A set of criterions and performance indicators established by The Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria for Destinations (GSTC-D) are as follows: SECTION A : Demonstrating effective sustainable management A1 Sustainable destination strategy: The destination has established a destination strategy that is publicly available, is suited to its scale, and was developed with public participation. A2 Destination management organization: The destination has a management group or organization which is suited to the size and scale of the destination and has defined responsibilities. A3 Monitoring: The destination has a system to monitor, to publicly report, and to respond to environmental, economic, social, cultural, tourism, and human rights issues. 15
A4 Tourism seasonality management: The destination works on seasonality management to balance the needs of the local economy, community, cultures and environment, and to identify year-round tourism opportunities. A5 Climate change adaptation: The destination has a system that encourages climate change adaptation strategies for development, design, and management of facilities. The system contributes to public education on climate for both residents and tourists. A6 Inventory of tourism assets and attraction: The destination has an up-to-date, publicly available inventory and assessment of its tourism assets and attractions, including natural and cultural sites. A7 Planning regulations: The destination has planning guidelines, regulations and/or policies designed to protect natural and cultural resources. Such guidelines, regulations and/or policies are created with local inputs from the public, are publicly communicated, and are enforced. A8 Access for all: Where appropriate, sites and facilities, including those of natural and cultural importance, are accessible to all, including persons with disabilities and others who have specific access requirements. 16
A9 A10 Property acquisition: Laws and regulations Visitor satisfaction: The destination regarding property acquisitions exist, has a system to monitor and are enforced, comply with communal publicly report visitor satisfaction, and indigenous rights, and ensure and to take action to improve it. public consultation. Resettlement must be fair and reasonable. A11 Sustainability standard: The destination has a system to promote sustainability standards for enterprises consistent with the GSTC-D Criteria. The destination makes a list of sustainability certified enterprises publicly available. A12 Safety and security: The destination has a system to monitor, to prevent, to publicly report, and to respond to crime, safety, and health hazards. A13 Crisis and emergency management: The destination has a crisis and emergency response plan that is appropriate to the destination. Key elements are communicated to residents, visitors, and enterprises. A14 Promotion: Promotion is accurate with regard to the destination and its products, services, and sustainability claims. 17
SECTION B : Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts B1 Economic monitoring: Economic activity is monitored and publicly reported at least annually. It should include visitor expenditure, revenue per available room, employment and investment data. B2 Local career opportunities: The destination’s enterprises provide equal employment, training opportunities, occupational safety, and fair wages for all. B3 Public participation: The destination has a system that encourages public participation in destination planning and decision making on an ongoing basis. B4 Local community opinion: Local communities’ aspirations, concerns, and satisfaction with destination management are regularly monitored, recorded and publicly reported in a timely manner. 18
B5 Local access: The destination monitors, protects, and when necessary, rehabilitates or restores local community access to natural and cultural sites. B6 Tourism awareness and education: The destination provides regular programs to affected communities to enhance their understanding of the opportunities and challenges of tourism, and the importance of sustainability. B7 Preventing exploitation: The destination has laws and established practices to prevent exploitation. The laws and established practices are publicly communicated. B8 Supporting for community: The destination has a system to enable and encourage enterprises, visitors, and the public to contribute to community and sustainability initiatives. B9 Supporting local entrepreneurs and fair trade: The destination has a system that promotes local sustainable products and fair trade principles that are based on the area’s nature and culture. 19
SECTION C : Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors and culture; minimizing negative impacts C1 Attraction protection: The destination has a policy and a system to evaluate, rehabilitate, and conserve natural and cultural sites, including built heritage, rural and urban scenic views. C2 Visitor management: The destination has a visitor management system for attraction sites that includes measures to preserve, to protect, and to enhance natural and cultural assets. 20
C3 C4 Visitor behavior: The destination Cultural heritage protection: has published and provided The destination has laws guidelines for proper visitor governing the proper sale, behavior in order to minimize trade, display, or gifting of adverse impacts and strengthen historical and archaeological positive visitor behaviors. artefacts. C5 C6 Site interpretation: Accurate Intellectual property: interpretive information The destination has a is provided at natural and system to contribute cultural sites. The information to the protection is developed with community and preservation of collaboration, and communicated intellectual property in languages relevant to rights of communities visitors. and individuals. 21
SECTION D : Maximizing benefits to the environment and minimizing negative impacts D1 Environmental risks: The destination has identified environmental risks and has a system in place to address them. D2 Protection of sensitive environments: The destination has a system to monitor the environmental impacts of tourism, conserve habitats, species, and ecosystems, and prevent the introduction of invasive species. D3 D4 Wildlife protection: The destination has Greenhouse gas emission: The a system to ensure compliance with destination has a system to local, national, and international laws and encourage enterprises to standards for the harvest or capture, measure, to monitor, to minimize, display, and sale of wildlife (including to publicly report, and to plants and animals). mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions from all aspects of D5 their operation. Energy conservation: The destination has a system to encourage enterprises to measure, to monitor, to reduce and publicly report energy consumption, and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. 22
D6 Water management: The destination has a system to encourage enterprises to measure, to monitor, to minimize, and to publicly report water usage. D7 Water security: The destination has a system to monitor its water resources to ensure that the use by enterprises is compatible with the water requirements of the destination community. D8 Water quality: The destination has a system to monitor water quality using quality standards. The monitoring results are publicly available, and the destination has a system to respond in a timely manner to water quality issues. D9 Waste water: The destination has clear and enforced guidelines in place for wastewater treatment systems, and ensures that wastes are properly treated and reused or released safely with minimal adverse effects to the local population and the environment. D10 Solid waste reduction: The destination has a system to encourage enterprises to reduce, reuse, and recycle solid waste. Any residual solid waste that is not reused or recycled is disposed of safely and sustainably. D11 Light and noise pollution: The destination has guidelines and regulations to minimize light and noise pollution. The destination encourages enterprises to follow these guidelines and regulations. D12 Low-impact transportation: The destination has a system to increase the use of low - impact transportation, including public transportation and active transportation (e.g., walking and cycling). 23
Community-Based Tourism of Kok Sathon Community “Kok Sathon Community” is a tourism destination in Kok Sathon Subdistrict, Dan Sai District, Loei Province. Most of its residents make a living on agriculture. Kok Sathon Community is in a mountainous region. It is located 122 kilometers from Loei and has a total area of about 300 square kilometers. Kok Sathon Subdistrict includes 12 villages or mooban as follows: Moo 1 Mooban Nam Mun Moo 7 Ban Kok Chan Moo 2 Ban Nam Yen Moo 8 Ban Huay Moon Moo 3 Ban Na Wa Noi Moo 9 Ban Kaeng Krok Moo 4 Ban Mak Kaeng Moo 10 Ban Hua Na Moo 5 Ban Huay Moon Moo 11 Ban Mun Khao Moo 6 Ban Toob Koh Moo 12 Ban Toob Koh Kok Sathon Community is adjacent to 3 provinces which are: 1 Dan Sai District, Loei Province 2 Lom Kao District, Phetchabun Province 3 Na Khon Thai District, Phitsanulok Province 24
Kok Sathon Community An increasing number of tourists are visiting Kok Sathon Community’s major tourist attractions. The total number of tourists in 2015 and 2016 is 12,000 and 16,000 respectively. The community’s growing tourism provides career opportunities other than those of the agricultural field to the residents. The community earned 3.4 million baht from tourism in 2015 and the revenue grew to 4.4 million baht in 2016. (Community-Based Tourism Club at Kok Sathon, 2017) Significant destinations in Kok Sathon include: 1 Toed Prakiet Forest Park: located in Ban Mak Kaeng (Moo 4) 2 Tad Mhok Waterfall: located in Ban Hua Na (Moo 10) 3 Highland Agricultural Vocation located in Ban Hua Na (Moo 10) Development and Promotion Center of Loei: 4 Hmong Hill Tribe Village: located in Ban Toob Koh (Moo 6) 5 Mun Daeng Waterfall: located in Ban Mun Khao (Moo 11) 6 Dinosaur Footprints located in Ban Mak Kaeng (Moo 4) 7 Phu Lom Lo: locatedatPhuHinRongKlaNationalPark (an area adjacent to 3 provinces: Loei,Phitsanulok, and Phetchabun) 25
“Phu Lom Lo” Is the largest Himalayan cherry blossom sightseeing location in Thailand. The flower is entitled “Sakura of Thailand”, and for this reason, Phu Lom Lo is a major tourist attraction of Kok Sathon Community, with an increasing number of tourists since 2010. The place used to be a neglected and uncultivated mountainous area (also known as bald mountain). The peak of Phu Lom Lo is 1,661 meters above mean sea level. It is cold throughout the year and “Phu Lom Lo” literally means a windy mountain. Tourism development at Phu Lom Lo started in 2008. The head of Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park invited the Hmong Hill Tribe in the area to take part in planting wild Himalayan cherry trees to expand forest area and to develop the place for tourism. Nowadays there are more than 160,000 Himalayan cherry trees standing on an area of over 1.92 square kilometers. 26
The tourist season at Phu Lom Lo is from the end of December to February of every year. During the time, the peak of Phu Lom Lo is of breathtaking beauty, adorned by an abundance of pink Himalayan cherry blossoms which attracts tourists to Kok Sathon Community. Although there are many routes to the peak, either via Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park in Phisanulok, via Ban Phu Thab Boek in Phetchabun, or via Kok Sathon in Loei, tourists tend to choose the route through Kok Sathon more than the others. With a growing number of visitors and a goal of sustainable destination development, DASTA started to play a significant role in the development of the community and its tourism management. The organization also encourages tourism organizations and local residents of Kok Sathon, Dan Sai District, Loei, to participate in the community’s sustainable tourism management based on the Community-Based Destination Management Criteria in order to develop Community-Based Tourism at Kok Sathon and make it a model community with public participation and benefits to the local community. 27
Community-Based Destination Management Criteria Based on GSTC-D of Kok Sathon Community by DASTA Kok Sathon Community’s Community-Based Tourism Development Community-Based Tourism Development Scheme Since 2012, assigned by DASTA, the Office of Community-Based Tourism (CBT) and the Office of Designated Areas at Loei have been in charge of the development through the following Community-Based destination certification process: 1 Establishing Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club 2 Educating and training the club’s members for tourism development 3 Monitoring the performance of the club The details of the process are as follows: Step 1 Establishing Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club President Counselor and Coordinator Vice President Head of Head Head Head of Cultural Head of Head Head Public Receptionist Registrar Conservation Safety Treasurer Secretary Relations and Promotion Public Assistant Assistant Cultural Safety Assistant Assistant Relations Receptionist Registrar Conservation Assistant Treasurer Secretary Assistant and Promotion Assistant 28
Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club is in charge of six main tasks: 1 Analyzing, promoting, and developing tourism, as well as planning the club’s operation in accordance with National Strategic Tourism Development Plan 2 Developing a model plan for Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism promotion and development 3 Managing work and budget plans to optimize benefits of efficient tourism 4 Operating correspondingly to visions, responsibilities, objectives, and aims of Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club 5 Monitoring and evaluating performance regarding tourism and related work 6 Reporting the performance and problems encountered to the public and tourism organizations Step 2 Educating and Training Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club for Tourism Development From 2013 to 2015, DASTA’s Office of Community-Based Tourism and Office of Designated Area at Loei carried out the following tasks to educate and train Kok Sathon Community’s members: 1 Providing club members with information about Community-Based Destination Management Criteria to ensure clear understanding of the criteria 2 Arranging meetings with tourism development organizations 3 Organizing learning programs and activities to educate the club’s leaders about sustainable tourism development 4 Organizing training programs or enabling club members to join tourism-related courses. 29
Step 3 Monitoring the performance of the club 1 The monitoring was done through two processes: Community Evaluation Based on Community-Based Destination Management Criteria The process had four steps: Step 1: Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club evaluates its performance Based on the Community-Based Destinations Management Criteria. Step 2: The Office of Community-Based Tourism and the Office of Designated Area at Loei work together to evaluate the community Based on the Community-Based Destinations Management Criteria. Step 3: The Office of Community-Based Tourism concludes the evaluation Based on the Community-Based Destinations Management Criteria 2014 and compares it to the performance of the previous year (2013). Step 4: The Community-Based Tourism Certification Working Group assesses overall performance to verify the evaluation of the year 2014. 2 Monitoring of The Model Community Development Plan The process had four steps: Step 1: The offices analyzes and studies the evaluation of the year 2014 and publicly reports monthly monitoring of the community’s development in 2015. Step 2: The Community-Based Tourism Certification Working Group tests the community’s tourism programs and works together with Kok Sathon Community to evaluate the performance. Step 3: The secretary (of the Office of Community-Based Tourism) gathers evaluation data, summarizes, and reports it to the Community-Based Tourism Certification Working Group and Kok Sathon Community members. Step 4: A Community-Based development certificate is granted to the community. 30
Overall Performance of Community-Based Tourism Development by Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club The table below shows overall performance of Community-Based Tourism management of Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club Based on DASTA’s Community-Based Destination Management Criteria from 2013 to 2015. The criteria were developed from the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations (GSTC-D) and covers its five key points. DASTA’s Overall performance of Kok Sathon’s Comments from Community- Community-Based Tourism Club Community-Based Tourism Certification Based Destination Working Group Management 2013 2014 2015 Criteria Plans for cultural 1 The club was of- The club started resource manage- Community- ficially established monthly meetings at ment for tourism Based Tourism with members and the5thofeverymonth. are not clear. management a well-structured The club opened for Plans for envi- operation. membership appli- ronmental and A strategic plan of cation twice a year. natural resource three years was Visitor regulations management on developed. were officially in- a larger scale are Members’registration troduced and visitors not clear. information was are informed about Travel accident recorded and docu the regulations insurance should mented. prior to the club’s be offered. A The club’s regulations tourism programs. tourist satisfaction were developed. The club worked survey should be Waste management together with other conducted. regulations for visitors tourism organiza- Tourists’ complaints were imposed. tions and groups should be put in Informative pamphlets to evaluate the writing. were provided for performance. tourists. 31
DASTA’s Overall performance of Kok Sathon’s Comments from Community- Community-Based Tourism Club Community-Based Tourism Certification Based Destination Working Group Management 2013 2014 Criteria A financial account- A celebration for His Majesty the ing system was de- King’s birthday was held on 12 De- veloped and exam- cember of every year at Ban Mak ined by SAO staff. Kaeng Park. The community’s The club’s financial reports were youth took part in revealed in the monthly meetings. cultural The community’s youth took part in cultural events for tourism. The club collaborated with other tourism organizations and groups. 2 2013 2014 2015 Socioeco- Tourism revenue is Members were An efficient sys- nomic managed with an granted a dividend tem for the sale and quality annual dividend. of 3 percent of the of local products of life The club’s main tourism revenue. should be adopt- management fund was set up for During tourist ed. A range of further public use. season in 2013 souvenirs should Local products and 2014, mem- be expanded and were put on sale. bers were grant made more various. The community’s a dividend of 52 youth and women baht per share. took part in 20 percent of the tourism activities. club’s fund was allo- cated for public use. 10 percent of each group’s revenue was allocated to the club. 32
DASTA’s Overall performance of Kok Sathon’s Comments from Community- Community-Based Tourism Club Community-Based Tourism Certification Based Destination Working Group Management 2013 2014 2015 Criteria Documents about Historical records More cultural 3 historical battles at of Huay Mak heritage infor- Ban Mak Kaeng were Kaeng Memorial mation should Cultural gathered but were are used for tourism. be gathered and heritage con- not yet cared for. Local food culture published. servation and The Memorial was was promoted. promotion selected to be the start Interpretive infor- of the travel route. mation was pro- 4 Phi Ta Khon (Ghost vided to tourists by Sustainable Festival) was included local interpreters. and efficient in school curriculums. natural Area usage was Area usage was Tourism routes and resource and determined by the d e t e r m i n e d i n activities should be environmental national park. collaboration with more diverse. management The number of Phu Hin Rong Kla An agreement be- tourists per car was National Park. tween Ban Rong controlled. Tourism zones kla and Kok Sathon Catalogs about were specified. about the manage- plants and herbs Maps of the area us- ment of the over- were published. age were provided. lapping territorial An annual tree plant- Tourists were en- claims area should ing event (particu- couraged to prop- be reached. larly of the Himalayan erly dispose of Information about cherry) was held with their waste. plants and wild- tourist participation. A database of in- life should be re- formation on natu- quested from the ral resource and national park. environment was used for tourism. 33
DASTA’s Overall performance of Kok Sathon’s Comments from Community- Community-Based Tourism Club Community-Based Tourism Certification Based Destination Working Group Management 2013 2014 2015 Criteria A visitors’ book was Information re- Safety tools and 5 available for tour- garding safe first aid kits should ists’ opinion. routes and ac- be available. Safety and Tourists were en- curate quantity The tourist infor services couraged to travel in of blooming or mation center should the club’s vehicles for falling flowers was be improved. Signs assured safety. provided. and information Maps of Kok Sathon’s The number of should be displayed. tourism sites were tourists per car Alternative tourism provided. An infor- was limited to 10 shouldbeoffered for mation booth is set people. year-round tourism up at the SAO office. A tourist informa- opportunities. Tourist toilets on Phu tion center was Emergency drills Lom Lo were provided. available but still should be done at A service system needed improve- least once a year are developed with ment. with an annual defined responsi- training before bilities. the tourist season. Kok Sathon Community’s Community-Based Tourism Development Based on Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria for Destinations (GTSC-D) Sustainable destinations were managed Based on GTSC’s criteria which covers four key points: 1 Demonstrating effective sustainable management 2 Maximizingeconomicbenefitstothehostcommunityandminimizingnegativeimpact 3 Maximizingbenefitstocommunities,visitorsandculture;minimizingnegativeimpacts 4 Maximizing benefits to the environment and minimizing negative impacts However, problems and limitations for sustainable Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism development also arose. 34
The table below shows overall performance of sustainable Community-Based Tourism management Based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteriafor Destination (GSTC-D) of Kok Sathon Community. A Demonstrating B Maximizing economic benefits effective to the host community sustainable and minimizing management negative impacts A1 Planning long-term strategies: B2 Local career opportunities: Groups Strategic Plan for Kok Saton’s of locals were formed to create Community-Based Tourism Develop- ment 2016-2017 was developed. tourism jobs from tourism activities. A2 Organizations responsible for B3 Public participation: Community tourist destination administration members are welcomed to take is Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club part in the Community-Based Tourism development. A3 Monitoring: The community B7 Preventing exploitation and B9 evaluated and developed its perfor Supporting local entrepreneurs mance on a regular basis. The Community-Based Tourism Certifi and fair trade: Guidelines and regulations are made between the cation Working Group monitored club and tourism entrepreneurs. its model community development. A4 Tourism seasonality management: B8 Supporting for community: The Tourist seasons were divided according club donated 10 percent of its to the three seasons: rainy season, revenue to Kok Sathon’s Subdistrict summer, and winter, with seasonal Administrative Organization, local tourism activities such as Himalayan schools, and the villages for cherry blossom sightseeing at Phu public use. Lom Lo, visiting over 130-million- year-old dinosaur footprints, visiting nine-tier Mundang Waterfall, visiting Hmong’s New Year Festival at Ban Toob Koh, an only Hmong village in the Northeast and Loei, etc. 35
A8 Access for all: A project was proposed to D the board of Strategic Plan for Development of Loei Province to request the fund for the construction of roads to tourism destinations. A12 Safety and security: Regulations were set Maximizing benefits to the up in collaboration with related agencies. environment and minimizing A13 Crisis and emergency management: negative impacts An emergency drill and response plan was developed with defined D1 Environmental risks: The community evaluated its responsibilities. performance and condition C Maximizing benefits to communities, Based on Community-Based visitors and culture; Destination Management minimizing negative Criteria which covers five impacts key points. Under the fourth point, it is shown that in 2014, C1 Attraction protection: Regulations for area usage was determined tourism management at Phu Lom Lo by Kok Sathon Community were set up. and Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park with maps provided. C2 Visitor management: Regulations and The number of tourists was prohibitions against foraging were issued and imposed. controlled in relation to the site’s capacity. C5 Site interpretation: A database of information on natural resources D6 Water management: Water and environment was used in the was reserved in large water community’s tourism activities. jars for consumption during deficiency. A check dam C6 Intellectual property: Hmong’sNewYear was constructed in Phu Festival at Ban Toob Koh is proclaimed Lom Lo and vicinity to store as an official event. Kok Sathon’s local food is officially conserved. water for the drought. 36
Suggestions for propelling sustainable Community-Based Tourism development are as follows, A Demonstrating effective B Maximizing economic benefits to sustainable management the host community and minimizing negative impacts A5 Climate change adaptation: Work on the issue. Economic monitoring: Develop a system B1 to assess and report visitor expenditure, A6 Inventory of tourism assets and attraction: List and categorize employment, and investment data. resources and tourist attractions. B4 Local community opinion: Develop a It should include both natural and system to monitor, record, and publicly cultural destinations for a greater variety of tourism activities. report the locals’ aspirations, concerns, and satisfaction. A10 Visitor satisfaction: Develop a A10 tourists’ satisfaction survey system. B5 Local access: Develop a system to monitor and assess behaviors towards Publicly report the results and use destinations of the locals and visitors, them for further improvements. both domestic and foreign. Sustainability standard: Develop a D Maximizing benefits to the environment A11 system to promote sustainability and minimizing negative impacts standards or to verify an environ- D1 Environmental risks: Conduct an efficient mental management system with assessment of the sustainability regarding support from the business sector. The system should be able to assess the indicator and develop a system to cope with the risks found. and verify tourism enterprises, and make publicly available a list of sustainability certified enterprises. D2 Protection of sensitive environments: Develop a management system Based on the indicator C Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors D4 Greenhouse gas emission and culture; minimizing negative impacts D5 Energy conservation C1 Attraction protection: Develop a D8 Water quality management system to examine, D9 Waste water assess, and mitigate negative impacts of tourism on destinations. D12 Low-impact transportation 37
Post-test 1. What is an important principle of Community-Based Tourism development? a. Community-Based Tourism is a tool to strengthen a community in cultural and natural resource management. b. Community-Based Tourism is participated by local residents. They can help direct their community’s tourism development and gain benefits from it. c. Community-Based Tourism is tourism that helps promote eco- nomic and social development as well as income distribution among local residents. d. a. and b. 2. What is a correct definition of sustainable tourism development according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)? a. Tourism that takes full account of its natural resources and respects the host communities’ cultures and local ways of life b. Tourism that takes full account of its natural resources and biodiversity, respects the host communities’ cultures and local ways of life, and ensures long-term economic growth and stability c. Tourism that takes full account of its natural resources and biodiversity, respects the host communities’ cultures and local ways of life, ensures long-term economic growth and stability with fair income distribution d. Tourism that takes full account of its natural resources and biodiversity, respects the host communities’ cultures and local ways of life, and ensures fair income distribution within the host communities 38
3. What are the four key points of destination management emphasized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council for Destinations (GTSC-D)? a. Demonstrating effective sustainable management, Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts, Maximizing cultural benefits and negative impacts to the host community and visitors, and Managing sustainable and efficient natural resource and environment b. Managing sustainable Community-Based Tourism, Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts, Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors, and culture; minimizing negative impacts, and Maximizing benefits to the environment and minimizing negative impacts c. Demonstrating effective sustainable management, Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts, Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors, and culture; minimizing negative impacts, and Managing natural resource and environment d. Demonstrating effective sustainable management, Maximizing economic benefits to the host community and minimizing negative impacts, Maximizing benefits to communities, visitors, and culture; minimizing negative impacts, and Maximizing benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts 4. What is not one principle of sustainable tourism development according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)? a. Tourism development that considers the limits of the area’s capacity b. Tourism development with participation of community members c. Tourism development that ensures economic growth d. Tourism development with fair income distribution within the host communities 39
5. How does Kok Sathon Community’s Community-Based Tourism Club offer community members an opportunity to take part in its tourism development? a. The club’s membership application is open to community members twice a year. b. The club has formed groups of tourism businesses such as a tour bus service group, a homestay service group, a cooking service group, a local product group, etc. c. The club encourages community members to participate in its monthly committee meeting on the 5th of every month. d. All of the above 6. What are Community-Based Tourism development strategies of Kok Sathon Community? a. Community-Based Tourism Club, training for the club’s committee, and monitoring of model community development b. Community-Based Tourism Club, training for the club’s committee, community assessment, and monitoring of model community development c. Community-Based Tourism Club, training for the club’s committee, and monitoring of the club’s performance d. Community-Based Tourism Club, training for the club’s committee, a model community project, and monitoring of the club’s performance 7. How does Kok Sathon Community promote and conserve its cultural heritage? a. Providing historical information of its destinations. b. Promoting and publicizing its local food. c. Providing information for tourists at natural and cultural destinations. d. a. and b. 40
8. What is not one of Kok Sathon Community’s solutions to environmental impacts? a. What is not one of Kok Sathon Community’s solutions to environmental impacts? b. Posting visitor prohibition notices c. Determining agriculture, conservation, and tourism areas in collaboration with Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park d. Constructing a check dam in Phu Lom Lo and vicinity 9. What is one of Kok Sathon Community’s effective solutions to sustainability problems? a. Developing an emergency response plan for tourists with staff in charge b. Developing strategic plans for tourism development of Kok Sathon Community c. Settling an agreement and agreed regulations among Kok Sathon’s Community-Based Tourism Club and groups of tourism businesses d. Sponsoring the community’s public activities with 10 percent of its tourism revenue 10. What is one of Kok Sathon Community’s solutions to problems concerning environmental impacts? a. Developing a framework for intellectual property protection b. Developing a system to preserve and protect tourism destinations c. Posting visitor prohibition notices and determining area usage d. Organizing the tour bus system by imposing quality control on vehicles and drivers 41
Post-lesson Discussion Questions 1 What are Kok Sathon Community’s procedures for sustainable Community-Based Tourism development? 2 How could Kok Sathon Community achieve sustainability in its tourism management? 3 What should be solutions to problems about Kok Sathon Community’s environmental management? 4 How should Kok Sathon Community’s local participation in local culture and natural resource conservation be encouraged? 5 Think about Kok Sathon Community’s measures and regulations to deal with environmental and climatic changes in order to sustainably preserve its environmental resources. 42 Answer key 1 d 2c 3d 4 c 5d 6 c 7 c 8 a 9 b 10 c
Bibliography Community-Based Tourism Club of Kok Sathon. Main Strategic Plan for Community-Based Tourism Development 2016-2018. Phu Lom Lo. Pamphlet. Emergency Response Plans. Poster. Instructions for Himalayan Cherry Blossom Sightseeing (at Phu Lom Lo) via a Route in Kok Sathon, Dan Sai District, Loei. Poster. Community-Based Tourism Club’s Announcement of Tourism on Price Regulations for Tourism Enterprises dated 5 July 2013. Visitor Satisfaction Survey on the Services Provided by the Community -Based Tourism Promotion Club of Kok Sathon, Loei Province, 2016. Office of Community-Based Tourism. 2016. Monitoring Report on the Progress of Community- Based Tourism Promotion Club of Kok Sathon during 2013-2015. Community-Based Destination Management Criteria Manual. Dan Sai Crown Prince Hospital and Community-Based Tourism Club of Kok Sathon. A Memorandum of Agreement on Cooperation for Tourism Emergency Response between Dan Sai Crown Prince Hospital and Community-Based Tourism Club of Kok Sathon. 7 November 2016. Yo Lampueng. (n.d.). Phu Lom Lo and Community-Based Tourism. Board Secretary of Community-Based Tourism Club of Kok Sathon. Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park and Community-Based Tourism Club of Kok Sathon. A Memorandum of Agreement on Community-Based Tourism Management. 9 July 2016. Global Sustainable Tourism Council. 2017. Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations. Available http://www.gstcouncil.org/en/ gstc-criteria-hotels-touroperators-destinations/sustainable-tourism -gstc-criteria.html 43
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