PATA’s Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015 recognises six organisations and businesses that have demonstrated excellence in social, environmental and economic sustainability in tourism. The Awards judged winners based on sustainable consumption and production principles and existing internationally recognised sustainable tourism standards.
BANGKOK – Ban Rai Kong Khing, a community-based tourism in Hang Dong district, Chiang Mai, recently won the Tourism InSPIRE Award 2015 as the best community-based tourism initiative. The Award was organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
PATA’s Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015 recognises six organisations and businesses that have demonstrated excellence in social, environmental and economic sustainability in tourism. The Awards judged winners based on sustainable consumption and production principles and existing internationally recognised sustainable tourism standards.
In September, this year, Ban Rai Kong Khing also won the Thailand Tourism Awards from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Ban Rai Kong Khing village organised its community-based tourism with the help of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) who helped conduct training programmes, thinking processes and develop tourism services within the community.
The village currently provides tourist services; such as, community tours, organic food, traditional Lanna massages and herbal products, managed by the community’s people. By following the set standard, people in the community can increase income by 10 per cent.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of TAT said, “Ban Rai Kong Khing village prove itself to help inspire best practises for community-based tourism in Thailand by receiving the Tourism InSPIRE Award 2015. Apart from this award, the village had won the TAT’s Thailand Tourism Awards 2015 as well which demonstrates TAT’s tireless effort in encouraging communities nationwide to approach such tourism practices are working well. We look forward to more successful and sustainable community-based villages across the country.”
Image via Ban Rai Kong Khing Facebook fan page
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
