Sustainable Tourism Community Program

Running Head: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COMMUNITY 1
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COMMUNITY 4

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COMMUNITY

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Sustainable Tourism Community

Through the development of a program referred to as “Sustainable Tourism Community for Learning,” Mae Kam Pong villagers have been able to unite with tourists to create a mutual learning environment. The villagers generate their income through these tourist activities that they introduce to the tourists so that they can learn about the rich culture of their community. Through such activities, numerous benefits have been accrued for the villagers including the improvement of the standards of living, independence and better infrastructure such as water and transport systems.

The village of Mae Kam pong developed over a hundred years ago with the settlement of immigrant families. The name Mae Kampong originated from red and yellow flowers growing within the community. The community consists of immigrant families situated in East Chiang Mai in Thailand. Within this community, tall mountainous slopes of an altitude of 1300m together with forests describe 98 percent of Mae Kam pong’s ecosystem. The climate remains at low ranges throughout the year and relatively cold in the winter.

Since this initiative was launched in 1999, many things have been incorporated into Mae Kampong activities including the initiation of the Sustainable Tourism Program (Tourism Concern). The finances generated by this activity have helped families to cater for providing for themselves. The sustainable tourism project is all about the ability to preserve the tourism and culture through environmental conservation and community engagement.

Mae Kam Pong villagers each work to make a contribution to the conservation of the region’s natural resources through planting trees and protecting forest species like the wild orchid, waste management and fighting fires which would destroy the ecosystem. The tourists in return achieve a proper understanding of the culture and ways of life of the people and are inclined to obey the rules of the sanctuary. This is crucial since Mae Kam Pong possesses a wide range of natural resources which relies entirely on sustainability. Social welfare systems have brought about income for the education of villagers and healthcare demands such as childbirth and illnesses.

Visitors can experience the local way of life by visiting the community as long as they respect the simple lifestyle of its people and natural resources. The villagers also play a role in providing the necessary comfort to ensure a comfortable stay. Tourists learn and participate in various activities with local people (Tourism Concern). And best of all, the income generated by tourism has financed various community welfare programs, ranging from infrastructure to the conservation of the forest to achieve more sustainable, ecological and authentic tourism that is the great achievement of Mae Kam Pong.

In addition to these activities, the people of Chiangmai have worked to include youth in the community’s activities. The YMCA has allowed groups of young people to carry put visits and familiarize themselves with the sustainability programme and take on preservation roles of natural and cultural resources. The YMCA engages with village heads and discusses the benefits that the community would get out of sustainability projects. Among these projects is the use of hydroelectric power the process of producing tea and coffee (Tourism Concern). The use of hydroelectricity is part of an effort of curbing the rising prices of oil and the adoption of renewable energy. The YMCA’s participation is also aimed at supporting good moral principles and responsibility within the society through the peaceful coexistence of villagers.
References

Tourism Concern,. (2016). Ban Mae Kam Pong community is located east of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand |. Tourismconcern.org.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2016, from