27 July 2007
Mar 26, 2015
27 July 2007
27 July 2007
Experience of a Successful Eco-lodge Operator
The Lisu Lodge, ThailandBy K.Chananya Phataraprasit
Director
27 July 2007
The principles of a win-win collaboration with a local Cultural Minority :
Cultural Minorities can benefit from Tourism industry
Alternative revenues Increase self esteem through business partnership Better living standards without sacrificing but
rather promoting the local culture Access to the international market/world
Tourism in enriched by Cultural minorities. Unique selling point : bio-diversity (exoticism) A network of diversified and dedicated suppliers The long term involvement of the local community
27 July 2007
The history of Lisu Lodge
Founded in 1993 in a Lisu Village 1H North of Chiang Mai
Initially a 4 rooms – 1 bathroom house built by the villagers
Rebuilt in 1995 at the outskirt of the village as a 6 rooms /6 bathrooms on the design of the local houses.
Developed in 2002 as a compound of 4 houses of 6 rooms each + 3 staff houses , a market area for local handicraft.
Upgraded in 2005 with a local style steam bath ,
27 July 2007
The dedicated and exclusive involvement of the Lisu
community • 100% of the staff is from the village
• Local costume and culture has been resuscitated , enhanced and displayed.
• Lisu and Visitors are in direct contact
•Self esteem was restored
27 July 2007
Activities operated with the community
We introduced
Safety standard
Reliability
Insurance
Guiding
Sense of timing
Sense of commitment
Cleanliness
The Community bring:
The local Knowledge
The skills
The daily care of animals
The staff
The local connections
27 July 2007
The whole village is involved
Village Benefits & Contribution :
• Local Handicraft sold to visitors
• Local Museum was developed by the head man
• The Lisu culture is explained with the contribution of the local Shaman.
•The village is kept clean
•No handicraft selling is done outside the dedicated shops
•Kids are not allowed to beg
•Costume is widely used
27 July 2007
Professional management
Operation run like a hotel chain
•Budget
•Cost control
• Human resource management ( training)
Any long term success of an eco tourism project
is dependent on two critical factors:
there has to be total and sustained focus on the careful
preservation of the cultural diversity of the site.
as well as a radical business approach
27 July 2007
The dedicated marketing
ASIAN OASIS : Mythical Journeys
A clear POSITIONING Low density High quality
Eco-friendlyCultural conservation
Relevant for most foreign visitors
An experience to remembersComfort and safety.
Professional BUSINESS PRACTICE Friendly priced
Pragmatic approach to distributionReliable and trustworthy
Sustainable tourism Renewable energy
27 July 2007
Dedicated Marketing
Marketing Budget
BrochuresWeb site
Advertising Trade shows
27 July 2007
Growing but controlled numbers
Year overnight Day visit1993 400 Old lodge of 4 rooms1994 8001997 1,500 500 New lodge of 6 rooms + New Day tours 2000 2,000 600 2001 2,500 1,000 2004 5,000 5,000 We reach Main tour Operators brochures2005 5,000 6,000 we limit lunches 2006 7,000 3,000
pax
We gain awards and build new 18 rooms and
What made the difference?
Consistency lead to recognition and to award winning
Award winning lead to Tour Operators brochures
Brochure dispatching lead to Public awareness.
Tomorrow Internet will be the key factor
Any failure to keep the product integrity would turn the Lisu Lodge into a mediocre guest house
27 July 2007
Our issues
Eco-friendly equipments are not available :
Solar water heater 4 times more expensive than gas
No clean vehicles No garbage sorting No recycling
It is difficult to conduct business in remote areas
ID and Land title is limited Education do not promote
minority culture Killing of wild animal still wide
stayed No capacity assessment . Any
success story is in danger to create its own destruction ( Sea Canoes, River rafting , Elephants are over used )
27 July 2007
Our Hopes and solutions
Work with Associations and NGOs
PDA and PATA have help build pilot project like Lor Chart .
Conference & seminar
Training , training and training
Promote through PR and example Award winning
1998 Best Lodge Award from TravelAsia
Conservation International's Ecotourism Excellence Award 2000
PATA's 2000 Gold Award of Ecotourism & Cultural Diversity
British Airways' Tourism For Tomorrow Award:200 Highly Recommended Accommodation
27 July 2007
Conclusion
The Lisu Lodge is living proof that the basic principles of responsible tourism can be turned into a successful business. As a pilot project it has set a new standard for local community involvement.
We hope we are empowering hill tribe people to choose
their own destiny from a position of strength and understanding. We are in fact using the power of the tourist dollar to slow down and hopefully even reverse environmental and cultural degradation. At the same time we hope that our guests are going back home with respect for other cultures.