Ecotourism and the UN Millennium Goal of Development Presented by Dr. Sasithara Pichaichannrarong Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Ecotourism Ecotourism and and

the UN Millennium Goal the UN Millennium Goal of Developmentof Development

Presented by Presented by Dr. Sasithara PichaichannrarongDr. Sasithara Pichaichannrarong

Deputy Permanent SecretaryDeputy Permanent SecretaryMinistry of Tourism and Sports of ThailandMinistry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand

Chairperson of ASEAN National Tourism OrganizationsChairperson of ASEAN National Tourism Organizations

Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

Ecotourism involves responsible travel to Ecotourism involves responsible travel to national areas that conserve the environment national areas that conserve the environment

improve the well-being of local peopleimprove the well-being of local people

connecting conservation connecting conservation

communities communities

responsible travelresponsible travel


build environmental build environmental

cultural awareness cultural awareness

provide positive experiencprovide positive experiences for visitors and hostses for visitors and hosts

raise awareness of the poliraise awareness of the politicaltical

environmental and social cenvironmental and social climatelimate


CambodiaCambodia

South ChinaSouth China

Lao PDRLao PDR

MyanmarMyanmar

ThailandThailand

Viet NamViet Nam


China

Thailand

Viet Nam

Cambodia

Laos

Myanmar

Millennium Declaration :Millennium Declaration :

Millennium Development Goals as a Millennium Development Goals as a

universal framework for development universal framework for development

developing countries developing countries

development partners to work togetherdevelopment partners to work together


number of people in developing countries living number of people in developing countries living on less than US$ 1 a day fell to 980 million in on less than US$ 1 a day fell to 980 million in 2004, down from 1.25 billion in 19902004, down from 1.25 billion in 1990

proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell from nearly a third of 33 % to 29 % over this from nearly a third of 33 % to 29 % over this periodperiod


the decline in global poverty is mostly due to the decline in global poverty is mostly due to rapid economic growthrapid economic growth

Tourism Strategy of this sub-region therefore has Tourism Strategy of this sub-region therefore has placed an emphasis on poverty reduction and placed an emphasis on poverty reduction and sustainable developmentsustainable development


Ecotourism, as stated Ecotourism, as stated previously, is a strong blend previously, is a strong blend

historicalhistorical

biological biological

cultural conservationcultural conservation

preservation preservation

sustainable sustainable developmentdevelopment


Ecotourism is considered the fastest growing Ecotourism is considered the fastest growing segment in the tourism industry with an annual segment in the tourism industry with an annual growth rate of 5 % worldwide and represents 6 % growth rate of 5 % worldwide and represents 6 % of the world gross domestic product. of the world gross domestic product.


numerous travel destinations numerous travel destinations ::

Myanmar’s In Lay LakeMyanmar’s In Lay Lake

Lao’s KonglorLao’s Konglor CaveCave


Cambodia’s Cambodia’s

YeakYeak LoamLoam LakeLake

Viet Nam’s Viet Nam’s Ecotourism Complex Ecotourism Complex

Phong Nha – Ke BangPhong Nha – Ke Bang

Thailand’s Thailand’s

KhaoKhao YaiYai National ParkNational Park. .


Various projects such as Various projects such as the the National Heritage National Heritage Conservation Management in Conservation Management in

Quang-Xi, People Quang-Xi, People Democratic of China Democratic of China Lao PDR Lao PDR

CambodiaCambodia, ,


the implementation of pro-poor community-based the implementation of pro-poor community-based eco tourism project for Lao PDR, Cambodia and eco tourism project for Lao PDR, Cambodia and VietnamVietnam under the GMS under the GMS Tourism Strategy Tourism Strategy are are excellent examples of ecotourism to eradicate excellent examples of ecotourism to eradicate povertypoverty


Developed countries need to deliver fully on Developed countries need to deliver fully on longstanding commitments to achieve the official longstanding commitments to achieve the official development assistance target of 0.7 % of gross development assistance target of 0.7 % of gross national income by 2015national income by 2015


We are proud that Asia to has been recognizeWe are proud that Asia to has been recognized by the United Nations as havingd by the United Nations as having “ “ an iman impressive reduction in povertypressive reduction in poverty ”. ”.


Emphasis on prioritised Emphasis on prioritised destinations to be developed destinations to be developed should be on accessibility with should be on accessibility with reasonable logistical facilities reasonable logistical facilities and infrastructure:and infrastructure:

airair

landland

waterway waterway transportationtransportation


The local community’s way of life should not The local community’s way of life should not be significantly affected by the growth of be significantly affected by the growth of external societiesexternal societies


Destinations selected are Destinations selected are typically defined as typically defined as

primary attractions :primary attractions :

floraflora

faunafauna

cultural heritagecultural heritage


building natural trailsbuilding natural trails

eco-friendly facilities eco-friendly facilities like pierslike piers

camp sitescamp sitestoiletstoiletsshower roomsshower roomsparking areas parking areas tourist service areastourist service areasrestaurantsrestaurantssouvenir shopssouvenir shops


survey on tourism investment needssurvey on tourism investment needs small and medium-sized tourism businessessmall and medium-sized tourism businesses for for micro micro

creditcredit

loan of 1,000 – 1,500 US$loan of 1,000 – 1,500 US$ safe boat landing in a villagesafe boat landing in a village

buying clean sets of sleeping materialsbuying clean sets of sleeping materials

acquiring life jacketsacquiring life jackets building appropriate bamboo paths for building appropriate bamboo paths for

mangroves trailsmangroves trails


Introducing a local financial institution such as a Introducing a local financial institution such as a Bank of Agriculture at a tourist destinations may Bank of Agriculture at a tourist destinations may instigate marketing and financing, small-scale instigate marketing and financing, small-scale investment in agro tourism, launching of selling investment in agro tourism, launching of selling points on farm products, and also electronic points on farm products, and also electronic transactions like credit cards or currency exchange. transactions like credit cards or currency exchange.


short-course trainingshort-course training

iinternational language coursesnternational language courses

communication skillscommunication skills safetysafety securitysecurity

hospitality managementhospitality management


presentation of best presentation of best practicepractice

exchange of informationexchange of information and technicaland technical

exchange and learning exchange and learning from each otherfrom each other


Educational institutions should participate in Educational institutions should participate in monitoring ecotourism development key monitoring ecotourism development key performance indicatorsperformance indicators

Before and After MechanismBefore and After Mechanism will mirror whether will mirror whether ecotourism is indeed responsible travel that ecotourism is indeed responsible travel that improves the well-being of local people.improves the well-being of local people.


trial training course for Cambodia, Lao PDR and trial training course for Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand under the Emerald Triangle Tourism Thailand under the Emerald Triangle Tourism Cooperation in UbonratchathaniCooperation in Ubonratchathani

exchanged views on various aspects based exchanged views on various aspects based


this project will later this project will later be expanded to cover be expanded to cover Climate Change and Climate Change and TourismTourism

climate change is climate change is projected to have projected to have serious economic and serious economic and socialsocial


Ecotourism and the UN Millennium Goal of Development Presented by Dr. Sasithara Pichaichannrarong Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Documents

poverty lao ecotourism

period lao ecotourism

environment ecotourism

strong blend ecotourism

countries development

poverty reduction

millennium development

millennium goal of development