Ecotourism and the UN Millennium Goal of Development

1. Ecotourism and the UN Millennium Goal of Development Presented by Dr. Sasithara Pichaichannrarong Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand Chairperson of ASEAN National Tourism Organizations Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

2.  Ecotourism involves responsible travel to national areas that conserve the environment  improve the well-being of local people connecting conservation communities  responsible travel Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

3. build environmental  cultural awareness  provide positive experiences for visitors and hosts  raise awareness of the political  environmental and social climate Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

4.  Cambodia South China Lao PDR  Myanmar  Thailand Viet Nam China Viet Nam Laos Myanmar Thailand Cambodia Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

5.  Millennium Declaration : Millennium Development Goals as a universal framework for development developing countries development partners to work together Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

6. number of people in developing countries living on less than US$ 1 a day fell to 980 million in 2004, down from 1.25 billion in 1990 proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell from nearly a third of 33 % to 29 % over this period Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

7. the decline in global poverty is mostly due to rapid economic growth  Tourism Strategy of this sub-region therefore has placed an emphasis on poverty reduction and sustainable development Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

8. Ecotourism, as stated previously, is a strong blend historical biological cultural conservation preservation sustainable development Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

9. Ecotourism is considered the fastest growing segment in the tourism industry with an annual growth rate of 5 % worldwide and represents 6 % of the world gross domestic product. Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

10. numerous travel destinations : Myanmar’s In Lay Lake Lao’s KonglorCave Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

11. Cambodia’s YeakLoamLake Viet Nam’s Ecotourism Complex Phong Nha – Ke Bang  Thailand’s KhaoYaiNational Park. Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

12.  Various projects such as the National Heritage Conservation Management in Quang-Xi, People Democratic of China Lao PDR Cambodia, Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

13. the implementation of pro-poor community-based eco tourism project for Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnamunder the GMS Tourism Strategy are excellent examples of ecotourism to eradicate poverty Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

14.  Developed countries need to deliver fully on longstanding commitments to achieve the official development assistance target of 0.7 % of gross national income by 2015 Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

15.  We are proud that Asia to has been recognized by the United Nations as having“ an impressive reduction in poverty ”. Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

16.  Emphasis on prioritised destinations to be developed should be on accessibility with reasonable logistical facilities and infrastructure:air  land  waterway transportation Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

17. The local community’s way of life should not be significantly affected by the growth of external societies Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

18. Destinations selected are typically defined as primary attractions : flora fauna  cultural heritage Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

19.  building natural trails eco-friendly facilities like piers camp sites toilets shower rooms parking areas tourist service areas restaurants souvenir shops Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

20.  survey on tourism investment needs small and medium-sized tourism businessesfor micro credit  loan of 1,000 – 1,500 US$ safe boat landing in a village buying clean sets of sleeping materials acquiring life jackets building appropriate bamboo paths for mangroves trails Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

21.  Introducing a local financial institution such as a Bank of Agriculture at a tourist destinations may instigate marketing and financing, small-scale investment in agro tourism, launching of selling points on farm products, and also electronic transactions like credit cards or currency exchange. Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

22.  short-course training international language courses communication skills  safety security  hospitality management Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

23.  presentation of best practice exchange of information and technical  exchange and learning from each other Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

24.  Educational institutions should participate in monitoring ecotourism development key performance indicators Before and After Mechanismwill mirror whether ecotourism is indeed responsible travel that improves the well-being of local people. Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

25. trial training course for Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand under the Emerald Triangle Tourism Cooperation in Ubonratchathani  exchanged views on various aspects based Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007

26. this project will later be expanded to cover Climate Change and Tourism climate change is projected to have serious economic and social Lao Ecotourism Forum 26 – 29 July 2007