http://www.tatnews.org/tourism_news/detail.asp?id=4266
ECOTOURISM PIONEERS JOIN HANDS TO ATTRACT GROWING MARKET OF EUROPEAN
`RESPONSIBLE TOURISTS' TO THAILAND
While the world is being rocked by economic crisis, growing demand for green
and conscientious consumption offers new hope and opportunities. Tourism
experts from Thailand and Europe have teamed up with local community
representatives to strengthen Thai sustainable tourism standards.
INTRODUCING THE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY & MARKET ACCESS PARTNERSHIPS
FOR THAI SUSTAINABLE TOURISM SUPPLY CHAINS (CSR-MAP)
PROJECT
The Corporate Social Responsibility & Market Access Partnerships for Thai
Sustainable Tourism Supply Chains (CSR-MAP) project reflects cooperative
efforts being undertaken by four key project partners namely The Thai
Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA), The Green Leaf Foundation,
The European Centre for Eco and Agro Tourism (ECEAT), and The Thailand
Community-based Tourism Institute (CBT-I), with funding from the European Union
(EU).
Each is a key tourism related organization with a firm commitment to
sustainable tourism and strives to promote environmentally-responsible and
community-friendly tourism products and services.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Office of Tourism Development,
Department of Sports and Tourism of Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports
are 'associated partners' of the CSR-MAP Project.
The CSR-MAP project aims to create greater sustainability in the Thai tourism
industry, and meet demand from European visitors. By offering better quality,
green products to EU tour operators, Thai suppliers will be able to reap the
financial benefits of tourism while safeguarding the precious environment on
which its future depends.
The project's goal is to: "Contribute towards sustainable EU-Thai tourism
supply chains by the broad introduction of CSR policies among Thai tourism
suppliers. Voluntary standards for social and environmental sustainability will
be strengthened, more influential, better implemented, monitored and enforced
in three core product areas: Hotel industry, Ecotourism and Community Based
Tourism (CBT)."
The project targets suppliers in the Thai tourism industry, which offer green
and sustainable tourism products, as well as local Thai communities, which have
developed community-based tourism (CBT) programmes, and European tour operators
with a firm commitment to supporting sustainable tourism.
The project will run for 18 months, from March 2009 to September 2010, with 75
per cent of its total budget of 236 000 being provided by the EU and 25 per
cent by the project partners TEATA, the Green Leaf Foundation and ECEAT.
The CSR-MAP Project is funded under the Thailand-EC Cooperation Facility
programme. Its objective is to strengthen and diversify the relationship
between the European Union and Thailand in a wide range of areas to deepen the
economic, political and cultural partnerships.
With funding from the European Union (EU) provided via ECEAT, project partners
will also develop new 'Thai Sustainable Tourism Routes'; integrated packages of
the best green and sustainable tourism products that Thailand has to offer.
Thailand benefits immensely from its position as a leading holiday destination
for European tourists. However, Thai tourism actors agree that to maintain this
position in the long-term, the industry must work to reduce the negative
impacts of tourism on the environment and society.
During the past decade, European consumers have also become more aware of the
negative impacts which their holiday choices can have on holiday destinations.
Consequently, demand for 'sustainable' and 'responsible' tourism products has
increased. To meet this demand, European tour operators are now searching for
quality, Thai sustainable tourism suppliers.
"In these times all sectors of the economy have a responsibility to consider
whether their practices are sustainable enough. Climate change and
environmental protection concern the tourism sector in particular and I am glad
that with EU support, Thai tourism actors will have the possibility to make
their products even more attractive and environmentally friendly", said David
Lipman, Ambassador of the European Commission to Thailand.
The project will give partners the opportunity to:
- learn about the European market's demand for sustainable tourism products
and standards;
- participate fully in the development and improvement of Thai Sustainable
Tourism Standards;
- gain recognition from European tour operators, and develop and market
innovative and integrated sustainable tourism products - Thai Sustainable
Tourism Routes.
For a maximum buy-in by European tour operators, and the opportunity for strong
Thai-EU cooperation, the new Thai sustainable tourism standards and products
will be developed in close collaboration with the EU partners.
CSR-MAP Project goals and results will be achieved through five "Work Packages"
(WP's):
WP 1 Tourism market studies and identification of EU operators committed to
sustainability: will reveal operators' ambition levels to invest in sustainable
supply chains, and define exact market demand for Thai sustainable tourism
products and standards.
WP 2 Sustainable Tourism Criteria improvement & development: will result in the
development of Thai sustainable tourism standards in the 3 sectors. Green Leaf
Foundation criteria will include more accommodation types and new hotels. Draft
sustainability standards will be developed for ecotourism services and CBT.
Guidelines will also be created to help increase Local Community Benefits from
suppliers which are situated along the routes.
WP 3 Development of Package tours, capacity building at destination and
initiating partnerships: This will result in a selection of innovative package
tours which combine an integrated selection of Thai sustainable tourism
products. Training will be given for suppliers to meet the new standards.
European tour operators will survey the routes.
WP 4 will result in the Dissemination and wider acceptance of the Sustainable
Tourism Standards and products among stakeholders in the Thai-EU tourism supply
chains.
WP 5 Management, evaluation and monitoring: will ensure coordination between
sectors and build a foundation for continuation of quality assurance and supply
chain management.
The CSR-MAP Project's target groups will be approached through the Project
Partners respected professionals who bring years of experience and expertise
to the project:
The Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) is a pioneering
association of 50 environmentally conscious, socially responsible Thai tour
operators who work together to put the ideals of ecotourism into practice;
The Green Leaf Foundation is a hotel standards and CSR certification
organization, representing over 200 members who adhere to a broad set of
environmental criteria;
European Center for Eco and Agro Tourism (ECEAT) supports an extensive network
of more than 1300 EU sustainable tourism suppliers. ECEAT Projects have
extensive international experience facilitating sustainable tourism
standardisation; building sustainable supply chains and promoting sustainable
tourism around the world though the EU-funded Green Travel Market:
www.greentravelmarket.info
External expertise in the area of Community-based Tourism (CBT) is being
provided by:
The Thailand Community-based Tourism Institute (CBT-I) provides research and
development support to a network of over 50 Thai communities, working with
stakeholders to support local people to manage tourism sustainably;
In Thailand, 'associated partners' of the CSR-MAP Project are: the Tourism
Authority of Thailand (TAT); the Office of Tourism Development, Department of
Sports and Tourism of Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports; Leeled
Community Based Tourism for Conservation Club, Surat Thani and Mae Kampong
Community Based Tourism Group, Chiang Mai. In Europe, the Federation of
Touroperators UK (FTO) and Dutch Federation of Touroperators (ANVR) have
offered their support.
Related web sites:
The Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA)
http://www.teata.or.th
The Green Leaf Foundation
http://www.greenleafthai.org
The European Centre for Eco and Agro Tourism (ECEAT)
http://www.eceat.org
The Thailand Community-based Tourism Institute (CBT-I)
http://www.cbt-i.org
