Implementing a successful, participatory, responsible travel program Joe Staiano Responsible Travel Consulting

Tourism can… Non-Responsible Non-Participatory Be a destructive force causing exploitation and degeneration of traditional ways of life. Responsible / Participatory Showcase natural and cultural heritage Environmental and cultural conservation Income generation

“Participatory” Defined Local people / communities are initiators, included, involved, active subjects of tourism development efforts, rather than passive participants.

Benefits Mobilize Resources Builds Capacity Diverse Skills Empowerment (individual & community) Equitable flow of information Greater role of marginalized groups

INGREDIENTS COLLABORATION EMPOWERMENT CONSENT SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNICATION

COLLABORATION Community Tour Operator Business Government NGO Supply chain Tourists

COMMUNICATION Communicate expectations to both the travelers and to local community Pay attention to differences of cross-cultural communication Talk, discuss, incorporate ideas; Work toward common goals. Stay in regular contact to ensure community remains supportive of project and that it continues to meet their needs.

SUSTAINABILITY Commitment + Patience = TRUST

Case Examples Andaman Discoveries, Thailand Soft Power Education, Uganda

Links tourists to local community School Refurbishment

a NEED identified

Involve TOURISTS who want to do good

INVOLVE the community

COMMUNICATION identifies further needs… COLLABORATION brings additional resources

SUSTAINABLE Thousands of tourists 50+ schools refurbished Education centers Adult learning Community development programs Income generation Partnerships w conservation NGOs Children on overnight safaris Donations Volunteers Training Equipment 12

Andaman Discoveries, Thailand Their story…

Participatory tourism is about Empowerment… creating a sense of place, listening to the locals, identifying what villagers see as important, and using this information to develop tourist activities.

Consent With the consent and assistance of the villagers, Andaman Discoveries conducted feasibility studies to assess whether tourism meets the wider needs of the community. Workshops to agree on community goals and motivation Exploration of positive and negative impacts of tourism Organizing pilot tours to assess suitability and realistic sustainability Tourism and service skills training "Sense of Place" book written by 30 villagers from 6 communities to allow villagers to explore, acknowledge, and value their cultural identities and environment Helping villagers to design activities, tours and trails to highlight points of interest and value

Education understanding of responsibilities, creating a common goal, and skill development in all areas, not only those related to tourism. ACE (Adventure, Community, Ecotourism) Training Program to support the villagers' community-based tourism development included: Tourism as a tool for community development Proposal writing Cultural, environmental and adventure-based guiding methods First Aid and safety training English language and computer skills Small business management and entrepreneurial training

Partnerships w/: NGO: North Andaman Tsunami Relief GOV: TEATA – Thai Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association CBT-I – Community Based Tourism Institute Tourism Authority of Thailand Communities Businesses

Participatory offerings Family home stays Mangrove reforestation Palm-weaving techniques Learning fishing techniques Batik printing Beach clean-up

Summary.. LISTEN carefully to the needs of the community Maintain strong RELATIONSHIPS DELIVER on your promise Have a SHARED VISION for future

Thank You Joe Staiano