‘Unique local products could be tourist draw’
Local people are being urged to showcase their unique products to capture high-spending tourists as community-based and adventure tourism is booming in Asia, including Thailand.
Mario Hardy, chief executive officer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said 280 delegates from around the world were gathering in Chiang Rai province until today, attending the “PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart”.
He said buyers and sellers were interested in adventure- and community-based tourism as these sectors are expanding throughout Asia. China, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are part of this emerging trend. “Thailand should take part of this growing … by promoting new destinations such as Chiang Rai as alternative places for adventure and community tourism. The province should have more air connectivity now."
He said it was time for local communities nationwide to highlight their products to attract local and foreign tourists, particularly big spenders.
Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the event would underscore Thailand’s commitment to adventure- and community-based tourism as it works towards sustainable tourism development.
"The three-day niche event [offers] new opportunities for promoting environmental protection and social sustainability within the industry," Yuthasak said. Saithong Hgenlertsakul, member of a village committee in Ban Huai Tom, Lamphun province, said her community was recognised for producing natural fabrics, silver, crafts and agricultural equipment for sale for years.
"Our simple [way] of living is what tourists want to visit. Here they can also visit a beautiful temple, Wat Phrabat Huai Tom. We are welcoming 50 visitors per day, 90 per cent Thais and 10 per cent from Japan and Western nations," she said.
The village is 105 kilometres from Lamphun town, but the community’s uniqueness can attract people from outside. Mei Zhang, founder of WildChina, a trend-setting experiential travel company based in Beijing, said it had opened three offices in the United States and three in China.
She said community-based tourism and adventure activities in China had become more popular over the past decade.
"Younger ‘millennial’ Chinese travellers are interested in their roots and history and culture, such as historic communities and umbrella-making villages. This is a new trend in China, but still less among international tourists," she said.
More and more Chinese tourists are coming to Chiang Rai and other parts of Thailand for food, shopping, and uniquely Thai experiences such as the making of papaya som tum (spicy salad).
"If Thailand wants to have more high-spending tourists, particularly from China, it should build a good image of being a high-end destination first," Mei said.
Moreover, operators are urged to use more online and social media to reach new generations of Chinese tourists.
