Introduction: Community Based Tourism & CBT-I
What is Community Based Tourism (CBT)?
“Tourism which emphasizes the sustainability of the environment and society. Decisions are made by the community and programs are managed by the community for the community so that the communities are the owners of the program and have rights over the way it is managed, with the purpose of encouraging sustainability & enabling learning among visitors to the community.”
What do guests do on CBT tours?
CBT groups develop programs based around special elements of local life that community members feel proud of and choose to share with guests. Guests have an opportunity to experience and learn about the community and environment through fun, ‘hands-on’ activities including jungle trekking, traditional fishing, natural dying, and learning to cook local dishes. Activities are lead by trained community guides…
Guests of community based tourism can…
“Discover Thailand as the honored guests of local friends, spending time exploring the remote and beautiful villages of rural Thailand, and participating in local life.
Learn about Thailand’s unique cultures, meet local people and join daily activities.
Share the heart, soul and wealth of Thailand: hospitable people living in harmony with the forest, rivers and seas which sustain our families and communities.
Stay in a traditional home with a local family; eat delicious home cooked food, and share stories, smiles, life and laughter with your hosts.
Trek with mountain tribe people through stunning emerald forests; listening to the wisdom of traditional legends under the cool shade of giant prehistoric trees.
Collect fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables from your hosts’ own orchard, before learning the family recipe for a mouthwatering jungle curry or a local herbal remedy.
Float at peace in the deep blue waters of the Andaman Sea, or try your hand and cast a net with the friendly fisherfolk of remote Andaman island.
Choose a journey which builds a bridge of friendship, respect, support and understanding between diverse peoples and distant way of life.
What is The Thailand Community-based Tourism Institute (CBT-I) ?
CBT-I was established in 2006, and lies under the umbrella of the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) Regional Office, based in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. CBT-I aims to:“Provide support and facilitate cooperation among stakeholders from grassroots to international levels, in order to strengthen the capacity of Thai communities to manage tourism sustainably.”
CBT-I is a partnership between Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project (REST) a pioneering Thai organization with over 15 years of experience supporting local Thai communities to develop small scale, sustainable tourism programs; and the Thailand Research Fund Regional Office, CBT Team which has worked for 5 years supporting local Thai community members to conduct their own participatory action research.
The work of REST and TRF has empowered local Thai community members to design models of CBT which are appropriate to their specific socio-cultural and environmental contexts, and which provide tangible benefits for community and environment.
The CBT-I team combines their research and development skills and experience in support of a network of approximately 50 local Thai communities which have developed Community based Tourism programs. CBT-I works actively with local communities, government, NGO’s, academics, and selected tour operators in Thailand and overseas with a commitment to Sustainable, Responsible Tourism.
The Goals of CBT :
1. Provide a forum for Thai communities to share their cultures, ways of life, and traditional wisdom with visitors. Further, to promote and disseminate successful community development and sustainable resource management initiatives.
2. Facilitate cross-cultural exchange, learning and respect between CBT Network communities and with visitors from urban or international backgrounds.
3. Increase environmental awareness among hosts and guests, and support existing local capacity in conservation and sustainable natural resource management
4. Support holistic community development and improved quality of life in partner communities by generating additional income; developing new skills among local people; strengthening the community’s planning, organizational and mangement capacity; and promoting broad local participation in community development.
How Have Local Communities Benefited from CBT?
• New Skills: analysis, planning, consensus, communication, presentation, management, monitoring, accounting, ‘green product’ development;
• Broader community participation, new roles and improved voice for youth, women, elderly community members and disadvantaged minority peoples.
• A platform for traditional practices; cultural expression, and cross-cultural exchange which has boosted the self-confidence of local people;
• Increased commitment to sustainable resource management - hosts & guests;
• ‘Community Funds:’ built into CBT pricing have provided funds for community and environmental projects – e.g.: reforestation, youth camps, advocacy;
• Additional income – Community based Tourism has contributed up to a 10% increase in the yearly income of participating community members;