DASTA joins Local Residents

?Sustainable Tourism?, the means of survival for the Thai tourism, finds marketing opportunities to mitigate economic, social and environmental impacts. DASTA thus joins forces with local people in highlighting King Chulalongkorn?s royal visit to Trat 136 years ago, to stimulate conservation conscience and revive Ko Chang?s tourism towards sustainability.

Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration or DASTA, joins academics, communities and local agencies in Trat Province at the press conference on ?136 Years in the Royal Footsteps of King Chulalongkorn??s Visit to Trat at Ko Chang? reviving Ko Chang?s tourism towards sustainability on 28 August 2009.

Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, Acting Director-General of Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration disclosed that from the crisis of the mainstream tourism, sustainable tourism can be a solution and a major direction for development, with more marketing opportunities seen for sustainable tourism, both from tourists? behaviors which have changed to emphasize more on tourism with environmental consciousness. Consumers from Europe require tourism goods and services with environmental awareness and are willing to pay more for such goods and services. As well, sustainable development can help mitigate economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts, so that tourism resources remain to attract tourists constantly and the business exists forever. In tourism industry, all must comply with the principle ofsustainability, not only small tourism business or expensive tours for upscale market, but also large party tours.

As such, historical tourism is one interesting form of sustainable tourism. It involves tours to destinations of historical, cultural and social significances, including sites with special spiritual ties to the new generations who come to learn history at the destinations, based on responsibility and conservation conscience for cultural heritage and the value of the environment.This is done with community participation in the systematic management of the destination, with consideration on its potentials to attract and accommodate tourists, the conservation, knowledge providing and conscience creation, as well as opening for community participation and equitable income distribution. The opening of historical tourism sites without proper management can impact the destination as well.

Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit added that the event ?136 Years in the Royal Footsteps of King Chulalongkorn??s Visit to Trat at Ko Chang? to take place on Saturday, 5 September 2009, at Koh Chang is at the cooperation among DASTA, local agencies, the media and communities in Trat Province, with the aim to create knowledge and understanding on the history of Trat as the site of twice royal visits by King Chulalongkorn, Rama V. This will lead to conscience and participation in the conservation of tourism destinations, as well as promoting the diversity of sustainable tourism activities. It is a major event with all sectors taking part in preparations. There are numerous interesting activities such as the Walk Rally in the trail of the royal visit, at the open lawn in front of Koh Chang District Office, a boat procession bringing consecrated water from Than Mayom Waterfall to Wat Watchakha Makhot Thawip, a spectacular cultural show, viewing artifacts on the cultural road, having an informal meal while listening to the tale of ?Trat and His Majesty King Chulalongkorn? and enjoying shopping for local food and products of Trat Province.?

Interested persons can seek more detailed information at the Tourism Information Center of Tha Som, DASTA Trat, tel. 0 3951 6051 ? 4. ?Historical tourism, ?another development of sustainable tourism by DASTA.

?Sustainable Tourism?, the means of survival for the Thai tourism, finds marketing opportunities to mitigate economic, social and environmental impacts. DASTA thus joins forces with local people in highlighting King Chulalongkorn?s royal visit to Trat 136 years ago, to stimulate conservation conscience and revive Ko Chang?s tourism towards sustainability.

Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration or DASTA, joins academics, communities and local agencies in Trat Province at the press conference on ?136 Years in the Royal Footsteps of King Chulalongkorn??s Visit to Trat at Ko Chang? reviving Ko Chang?s tourism towards sustainability on 28 August 2009.

Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, Acting Director-General of Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration disclosed that from the crisis of the mainstream tourism, sustainable tourism can be a solution and a major direction for development, with more marketing opportunities seen for sustainable tourism, both from tourists? behaviors which have changed to emphasize more on tourism with environmental consciousness. Consumers from Europe require tourism goods and services with environmental awareness and are willing to pay more for such goods and services. As well, sustainable development can help mitigate economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts, so that tourism resources remain to attract tourists constantly and the business exists forever. In tourism industry, all must comply with the principle ofsustainability, not only small tourism business or expensive tours for upscale market, but also large party tours.

As such, historical tourism is one interesting form of sustainable tourism. It involves tours to destinations of historical, cultural and social significances, including sites with special spiritual ties to the new generations who come to learn history at the destinations, based on responsibility and conservation conscience for cultural heritage and the value of the environment.This is done with community participation in the systematic management of the destination, with consideration on its potentials to attract and accommodate tourists, the conservation, knowledge providing and conscience creation, as well as opening for community participation and equitable income distribution. The opening of historical tourism sites without proper management can impact the destination as well.

Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit added that the event ?136 Years in the Royal Footsteps of King Chulalongkorn??s Visit to Trat at Ko Chang? to take place on Saturday, 5 September 2009, at Koh Chang is at the cooperation among DASTA, local agencies, the media and communities in Trat Province, with the aim to create knowledge and understanding on the history of Trat as the site of twice royal visits by King Chulalongkorn, Rama V. This will lead to conscience and participation in the conservation of tourism destinations, as well as promoting the diversity of sustainable tourism activities. It is a major event with all sectors taking part in preparations. There are numerous interesting activities such as the Walk Rally in the trail of the royal visit, at the open lawn in front of Koh Chang District Office, a boat procession bringing consecrated water from Than Mayom Waterfall to Wat Watchakha Makhot Thawip, a spectacular cultural show, viewing artifacts on the cultural road, having an informal meal while listening to the tale of ?Trat and His Majesty King Chulalongkorn? and enjoying shopping for local food and products of Trat Province.?

Interested persons can seek more detailed information at the Tourism Information Center of Tha Som, DASTA Trat, tel. 0 3951 6051 ? 4. ?Historical tourism, ?another development of sustainable tourism by DASTA.