Plan to support community tourism

The initiative, called Appear, tries to match strong hotel and tourism operators with communities to boost sustainable tourism. 

This will be done via new community-based tourism packages the operators help design, the UNDP says. The initiative expects to build a wider network on the initial matchings – the so-called Alliance of Good Neighbours.

It has initially targeted six traditional communities in Bangkok, including well-known tourism communities such as Banglamphu and Nang Lerng. 

Martin Hart-Hansen, the UNDP’s deputy resident representative, said tourism was a tool to drive sustainable development. 

He said developments under this concept could resolve problems in communities. These communities should be culturally supported to help preserve their identities in a sustainable way, so they do not “disappear”. That was the initial concept of the programme.

Last month, the UNDP also lent support to the Huai Kha Kheng wildlife sanctuary and adjacent protected forests under the Western Forest Complex, working with communities in that area in a bid to reduce encroachment and poaching. Similar innovative financial support including tourism-based incentives for communities was introduced as a result and will be extended for five years under an initial Bt240 million fund.