Introduction
Thailand has a long tradition of attracting high numbers of international tourists due to its exoticness and rich culture.
However, since having become one of the most popular holiday destinations worldwide, mass tourism attributes and artificial attractions became an integrated part on the insular state, which traditionally provides authentic and cultural experiences.
This gave rise to a trend that seems to be the solution for efficient resource management, preserving Thailand’s most precious resource, and reinforced satisfaction of the conscientious and socially responsible tourist: custom tourism.
Original article by Theodore Koumelis (Friday, September 19, 2008)
Introduction
Thailand has a long tradition of attracting high numbers of international tourists due to its exoticness and rich culture. Tourists enjoy the uniqueness and mystery of the Thai culture, combined with the pure natural resources of pristine beaches and the unspoilt hinterland with its lush green landscapes and scenic mountain ranges.
However, since having become one of the most popular holiday destinations worldwide, mass tourism attributes and artificial attractions became an integrated part on the insular state, which traditionally provides authentic and cultural experiences. This did not only collide with the expectations of the discerning traveler, and, could potentially result in negative impacts on natural as well as cultural resources, but also confronted tourism stakeholders with a challenge to reconsider its strategy. This gave rise to a trend that seems to be the solution for efficient resource management, preserving Thailand’s most precious resource, and reinforced satisfaction of the conscientious and socially responsible tourist: custom tourism.
Instead of imposing several management frameworks and restricting monitoring systems onto the Thai tourism industry and their cultural attractions, the stakeholders involved count on a deviant tool: Active participation in the Thai culture. It provides tourists with the opportunity to live the Thai lifestyle, and to participate in every day activities or to obtain skills in traditional Thai habits brought to them by members of the local community. By this direct involvement and by paying attention to the authenticity of each experience, local communities create awareness among the tourists and thereby stimulate preservation.
David J. Telfer and Atsuko Hashimoto allude to the need for resource management in the article “Resource Management: Social, cultural, physical environment and the optimization of impacts” in the book Tourism Management Dynamics (Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006). Telfer and Hashimoto claim that as ‘tourism products evolve, more and more resources are being drawn into the tourism domain and refer to sustainability and empowerment and the need to consult local people and understand local knowledge systems. Thereupon, Hashimoto claims that despite the fact that tourism development can lead to a commercialization of cultural resources, it “can (also) lead to the protection and enhancement of traditions, customs and heritage, which would otherwise disappear” (Hashimoto, 2002).
However, according to Weaver and Oppermann there is a need for environmental and cultural indicators, that the impacts of tourism at a destination should be measured against in order to identify whether the chosen approach is actually sustainable (Weaver and Oppermann, 2000).
Custom tourism seems to be an appropriate approach for Thailand, as after all, it stems from those who originate from this valuable asset. Not only will it create awareness among tourists, but also among the Thai community itself, ensuring that, what the Bruntland Report referred to by Telfer and Hashimoto, described as (sustainable tourism) development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
I don’t totally agree with the fact that custom tourism is the right approach for Thailand’s efficient resource management. This is mainly because I think that after a while the tourists are pressuring the Thai inhabitants themselves because they become a main tourist attraction.
One tourism strategy that may be important for mass tourists to satisfy their curiosity about Thai lifestyle may be the establishment of staged attractions such as Thais Villages. Like for example, this attraction gives many tourists a quick front stage experience of some aspects of Thai culture without the Thai themselves being present
I worked for an organization in Thailand offering community-based tourism, and I don’t agree that tourists would be interested in visiting a Thai village without Thai people being there. The main attraction of this concept is the interaction with local people.
In my opinion it is the responsibilty of the organization in charge, to decide the capacity of tourists that can be welcomed in a village without pressuring its Thai inhabitants. As long as tourists repsect the local culture it is a great experience for both the tourists and the local community.
About the Thai village, I gave this as an example to protect actually the Thai people of becoming a mean tourist attraction. I really think that if tourists are interested in their culture and they can visit a Thai village (without the locals only the village) tourists can still get a lot of information about Thai culture, they can see for example how people live, how everything in the village is ordered, which materials are used etc…
I agree with what you say about the fact that the organisation has to take its responsibility but this will not always easy because when there are many tourists interested I don’t think that the orginasation is going to say all the times that there is only a limited number of visitors allowed to get engaged with the Thai people. I really think that at a certain moment Thai people are not going to like it anymore as they will get the feeling of being a real attraction.
I agree with Renske on this. If I would visit Thailand, I would never go to an “empty and man-made” village! I want to see the locals and how they live, talk with them and try to have a conversation. And I also agree with the fact that they can set a maximum amount of tourist. If a village makes certain appointments with tour operators you can regulate the amount.
I really think that only a Thai village can be a real main attraction for tourists. I do not think it I know it because I have seen it in real life. In Mexico, Cancun this is exactly what they did with the Maya culture. The made a tourist attraction which was a Maya village without inhabitants in it.
I went there and I really like it because you get a real understanding on how people live etc. What Mexico did to keep it attractive was by giving shows in the Maya Village. So Mexian people where dressed like Maya people and performed all kind of acts.