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A Path to Community Based Tourism, Asian Oasis Mythical Journeys in the Hilltribe Villages of Northern Thailand
Lisu Lodge Company in northern Thailand promotes sustainable, community-based tourism through its lodges in hilltribe villages, offering authentic cultural experiences while supporting local livelihoods. The founder, Chananya Phataraprasit, emphasizes preserving local customs and improving community well-being through economic growth and education. The company engages with villagers, employing locals and providing education and health support, while also promoting environmental conservation and cultural exchange.
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A Path to Community Based Tourism, Asian Oasis Mythical Journeys in the Hilltribe Villages of Northern Thailand
- 1. A Path toCommunity Based Tourism; Asian Oasis Mythical Journeys in the Hilltribe Villages of Northern Thailand
- 2. Introducing Lisu Lodge Company LisuLodge Lanjia Lodge Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Created by passionate travelers, Lisu Lodge Co. has worked closely with local villagers in Northern Thailand to create sustainable comm unity-based tourism products while conserving the natural surroundi ngs.
- 3. e two lodgesare now zers in community-based t in Thailand, having won lo nd international awards. Lisu and Lanjia Lodges are located in remote hilltribe village s of Northern Thailand which ar e remarkably easy to access with an hours flight from Bangkok, Th ailand.
- 4. Meet Chananya Phataraprasit Founder,Lisu Lodge Company
- 5. Chananya has deeproots in Thailand’s travel and tourism industry. Her father, Peter Larsen, started one of Thailand’s leading inbound tour operator’s, East West Siam. In 1995, Chananya built a small lodge in the remote hill tribe village of Lisu in Northern Thailand.
- 6. She wanted aplace where visitors could learn about local culture directly from th eir hosts, the hilltribe villagers.
- 7. She also wanted thevillage to earn income directly from tourism.
- 8. In 2005, thissame model for sustainable development was also adopted when she built Lanjia Lodge in the Hmong and Lahu hill tribe village in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
- 9. Chananya and LisuLodge Company are driven by a passion to sustain, protect and improve local culture and the environment through economic growth, ed ucation and employment opportunities. .
- 10. • Preservation ofculture, traditions and community • Sustaining the livelihood of the community • Building strong and vibrant communities. • Delivering the authentic experience to the visitors
- 11.
- 12. Named after theLisu hill tribe village located nearby and comprised of villagers that migrated to Northern Thailand from southern China and Tibet in the early 20th century.
- 13. Baan Chang, ChiangMai Lisu Lodge is part of a community-based project that aims to conserve the natural heritage of the hill tribes of Northern Thailand.
- 14. Lisu Lodge ‣ Locatedin the community ‣ 4 homes, each with 6 bedrooms. ‣ Common dining room & living area at each home ‣ Central bar area, steam bath and gift shop ‣ Market area for the community ‣ Environmental concern for the buildings and the grounds ‣ Energy consumption concerns : solar heating & lighting ‣ Employ 19 Lisu people from the village to work at the lodge ‣ Engage local suppliers for all activities
- 15.
- 16. Kiew Karn, Chiang Rai Lanjiaor 'peaceful' in Hmong language.
- 17. Lanjia Lodge deliversa total experience, one that is tailored to meet the needs and expectations of the guests and comm unities involved, going far beyond just booking rooms, by cr eating unique, complete travel experiences.
- 18. Lanjia Lodge ‣ Collaborationwith the Population and Development Association (PDA) ‣ Located in the community ‣ 4 homes, each with 4 bedrooms ‣ Common dining room & living area at each home ‣ Presentation area introducing the work of PDA ‣ Environmental concern for the building & the grounds ‣ Energy Consumption concerns : lighting & gas water heater ‣ Employ 15 Hmong & Lahu people from the village to work at the lodge ‣ Batik making area in the community
- 19. Lisu Lodge Co.has embraced many of the design elements of the Akha, Lahu, Lisu and Hmong people. T he lodges have incorporated many design features that reflect the rich traditions of the remarkable hilltribe co mmunities in which they are located.
- 20. Part of theincome earned at the lodge goes towards the village fund to support educational, cultural and economic projects to im prove the quality of life of hundreds of villagers.
- 21. The Hmong, Akhaand Lahu hilltribe’s participate in all aspect of delivering this unique experience which is sure to leave the traveler with a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, these unique communities.
- 22. The local communityspeaks (thru a translator) of their life experiences to the guests, explaining their beliefs, and why t hey believe that way.
- 23. Lisu Lodge Company’spath to Community Based Sustainable Tourism
- 24. • Preservation ofculture, traditions and community • Sustaining the livelihood of the community • Building strong and vibrant communities, with opportunities • Delivering the authentic experience to the visitors
- 25. Lisu Lodge Companyworks with the local villagers to preserve their culture, revive local customs and cele brate traditions such as New Year celebrations, birth r ituals, wedding ceremonies and auspicious days.
- 26. Working with thelocal community Regular health checks are provided for all members of the community and vaccinations are sponsored by the lodge.
- 27. Preservation of Traditions Creatingunderstanding between • Community and Lisu Lodge • Lisu Lodge and the Visitors • Visitor and community
- 28. Sustaining Creating Long termOpportunities & Economic Prosperity 16 years ago there were only 16 households, today there are over 300 households.
- 29. Building a bond: Lisu Lodge is part of the community and the community is part of Lisu Lodge. Everyone is entitled to opportunities to grow.
- 30.
- 31. All food suppliesare purchased from the local co mmunity, construction and m aintenance is provided by loc al villager using natural resour ces.
- 32. Create space andtime where exchanges are done in the a natural setting
- 33. Experiences : performances,excursions : biking, rafting, trekking, elephant rides and handicraft makin g
- 34. Activities are lowcarbon energy consumption
- 35.
- 36. EarthCare was createdfor those seeking to learn more about the community & environment. By study ing the impacts on the environment and communiti es with goals of creating a positive outcome. The ou tcomes involves active participation in activities suc h as environmental clean up, building schools, buildi ng dams and teaching.
- 37. ‣ Learning: Communityand Environment ‣ Discovery: New culture and self ‣ Awareness: traditions, communities issues and environment. EarthCare Students
- 38. ‣ Team Building;environment & community interaction ‣ Leadership ‣ Bonding & Cultural Exchange ‣ Retreat ‣ Self Awareness & Balance EarthCare Corporate
- 39.
- 40. Himmapaan Foundation isa network of organizations, individuals and companies in the travel-related industry. Working together to su pport sustainable tourism in areas where tourism has had an impact on the environment and local traditions. It strives to encourage travelers to take part in activities to restore or improve the quality of life of local people in their communities and e nvironmental protection projects.
- 41. Issues for Reflectionand Discussion
- 42. Pictured above isa tourist’s visit to the local leader where travelers share a welcome drink. Why do you think all of the bamboo cups have a semicircle carved off the top?
- 43. What are thechildren in the photo wearing? Possible answer include; a uniform, a costume, or their clothes.
- 44. Would you liketo ride an elephant?
- 45. What are someof the threats to sustainability seen in the photos above?
- 46. What do thesetourist activities have in common?
- 47. What rules wouldyou create regarding the responsibilities of the tourist? How would you communicate this message?
- 48.
- 49. Corporate Social Responsibility Considerthe following opinions from different perspectives; 1.0% should be allocated for CSR efforts. Companies have no social responsibility, only people do. Return 100% of the p rofits to the investor and allow them to decide what to do w ith the return on investment. 2.10% of revenue should be allocated to CSR efforts. 3.30% of profits should be allocated for CSR efforts.
- 50. Considering CSR A percentageof the income earned at the lodge goes toward s the village fund to support educ ational, cultural and economic pr ojects to improve the quality of lif e of hundreds of villagers. What percentage of income would you suggest Asian Oasis co ntribute to the village bank?
- 51. Animal Rights Asian Oasishas removed elephant rides from all its it ineraries. The decision marks part of a major recent shift in the industry away from elephant rides.
- 52. Debate the meritsof providing elephant rides co nsidering various stakehold ers. Consider perspectives from; 1.The international tour operators that supply custo mers 2.Local tour operators such as Asian Oasis 3.The business providing elephant rides 4.The local community 5.Animal rights activists
- 53. Complete the followingpassages regarding Asian Oasis's community based tourism development efforts 1.Preserving ________________________? 2. Sustaining ________________________? 3. Building ________________________? 4. Protecting ________________________? 5. Delivering ________________________? Review of Learning Outcomes
- 54. Provide examples ofhow Asian Oasis is; Preserving culture, traditions and community Sustaining the livelihood of the community Building strong and vibrant communities. Protecting the natural environment Delivering authentic experiences to visitors
- 55.
Editor's Notes
- #36 Lisu Lodge is a respected member of the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) and participates in numerous projects aimed at the conservation of natural resources and the protection and appreciation of hilltribe cultures. Through the Himmapaan Foundation, education and training is provided to travellers and villagers regarding the protection of the environment and the importance of reforestation. The Himmapaan Foundation aspires to do more than just preserve the natural and cultural heritage, the aim is to improve and protect these fragile environments. The Population and Community Development Association (PDA) was founded in 1974 as a non-governmental organization with the initial aim to complement the efforts of the Royal Thai Government in promoting family planning in Thailand, especially in areas where knowledge and access to services were scarce. Utilizing a participatory, community-based approach, PDA recruited and trained residents of villages and urban neighborhoods to provide information on family planning. www.pda.or.th
- #40 Partnerships with Developmental Organizations and NGO’S The Himmapaan Foundation is a network of organizations, individuals and companies in the travel-related industry. Working together to support sustainable tourism in areas where tourism has had an impact on the environment and local traditions. It strives to encourage travelers to take part in activities to restore or improve the quality of life of local people in their communities and environmental protection projects. www.himmapan.com
- #43 Answer: The locals thought it would be easier for the foreigners to drink as foriegners have BIG NOSES!
- #44 Issues ranging from authenticity to child labor may be considered depending on the responses Discuss the Pros and Cons from the perspectives of the child, the family, the tourist and Asian Oasis.
- #45 The use of elephants in visitor attractions is one that Thailand struggles to come to terms with. Many visitors request elephant rides while in Thailand as advocates for the elephants suggest the elephants are often mistreated and the elephant camps practice unsustainable practices (social, environmental and economic). A debate on the pros and cons of elephant riding is often useful to aid in understanding.
- #46 The lack of safety equipment, a sinking raft (poor construction) and the behavior of the tourist drinking beer have been suggested and can be discussed
- #47 The guests are; teaching an art class and making merit with the monks. Exit interviews of the tourist include these activities as the highlight of their trip. These activities are also unplanned (spontaneous) and of very little cost.
- #48 Pictured above are well meaning tourists that were specifically asked to refrain from taking pictures of locals without asking (impolite) and to refrain from rewarding children with candy (there is no dentist in the village) Asian Oasis operates in communities with a much different culture. Yet most travelers want to learn about the local customs and be “good tourists”. If you worked for Asian Oasis, what suggestion would you make to tourist that want to do good (ie. buy local products)? How would you communicate these suggestions.
- #53 The use of elephants in visitor attractions is one that Thailand struggles to come to terms with. Many visitors request elephant rides while in Thailand as advocates for the elephants suggest the elephants are often mistreated and the elephant camps practice unsustainable practices (social, environmental and economic). A debate on the pros and cons of elephant riding is often useful to aid in understanding.