chiang mai province

Travelling Green is the only way
to preserve the heaven-like
reputation of Thailand
Professor Surachet Chettamart,
Dean, Faculty of Tourism,
Maha Sarakham University.
Conclusion
Engaging local people
We shall definitely opt for more nature-based tourism, relying on protected
areas and forest parks, as well as local villages and communities
that show our authentic way of life. We should aim, in the meantime, for
a tourism that generates a low impact for the affected regions, people and
environment. I definitely believe that we have to engage local people in this
respect. They shall pocket the benefits from an alternative, sustainable type
of tourism, to begin with more educational input.
The time is ripe for such a mobilization. Thailand’s tourism turn shall take
place now. Climate warming, we all know, is destroying our most precious
resources, like clean water. And its impact is huge on coastal destinations
that are threatened by tsunamis and coastal erosion. European tourists know
well that travelling Green is the only way to keep the heaven-like reputation
of the Kingdom.
What we Need is an Integrated Approach
The European Union, with its tradition of homestay and tourism standards,
can help us a lot. My own belief is that “Green” is not a concept that can stand
alone when it comes to tourism and the travel industry. It is a societal change
that we need.
On the visitors’ side, we shall encourage them to rediscover the value and
virtue of the local culture. Take the example of Northeast Thailand: it has
an immense potential in terms of cultural diversity, folk art, traditions, and
agro-tourism. Things differ from one village to another, which makes those
Isan provinces perfect hideaway destinations after some days of lying on
the beach. We need an integrated approach. Our central government should
come up with appropriate standards; our logistics industry should make
tremendous efforts to change. How can we pretend to be Green when we rely
mainly on car transportation
Our Cultural Diversity is an Enormous Potential
Let us face the social and economic reality. Green tourism means more
trains, more bicycle availability, and more eco-friendly buses. A low carbon
tourism can only prosper with a low carbon economy. But this is an
enormous challenge. Understanding Green tourism is the key of making
it possible. Outside of the main touristic areas, all of them congested and
seriously impacting the environment, the level of basic English among the
Thai population is too low for foreign visitors to travel alone. It is clearly one
of our main weaknesses, especially when we touch on some complicated
issues like the protection of nature, or low carbon tourism. Again, travelling
Green and focusing on sustainability can only happen if everybody
understands, at the least, the meaning of the term. •
When rice farming meets art
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