ATTENDING TOURIST 3RD CONSORTIUM MEETING AND VISIT COMMNUINITY-BASED TOURISM MODELS IN CHIANGMAI, THAILAND

Within the framework of TOURIST project, Dr. Tran Dinh Lam has participated the 3^rd Consortium Meeting at University of Payap, Chiangmai, Thailand from June 12 to June 14.

The meeting was attended by European partners, including, Ms. Claudia Linditsch (FH Joeneum, Austria), Prof. Michael Murg (Haaga-Helia, Finland), Ms. Holmberge Eva, Prof. Oana Madalina Driha, Ms. Noelia Lopez del Castillo (University of Alicante, Spain) as well as experts from 5 universities in Thailand and 3 universities in Vietnam.

Representatives from Hue University, USSH Hanoi and USSH-HCM at the Consortium Meeting

On delivering his opening remark, Dr. Rux Prompalit, President of Payap University spoke highly of the support from FH Joaneum and European universities as it has brought together Thailand and Vietnam universities to learn from one another and enhance human resources through this project.

In this occasion, the inauguration ceremony of TOURIST Competence Center, funded by the project at University of Payap also took place. Building the TOURIST Competences Center is an activity included in work package 4 of the project. After the project’s completion, this center will operate on the basis of offering counseling services to hotels, travel companies and association, and government bodies working on sustainable tourism. Thus the stakeholders could gain further knowledge and experience in sustainable tourism and innovative financial management strategies to implement their activities towards sustainable development.

In the inauguration ceremony, the President has expressed his sincere appreciation to the EU community, in general and experts from European universities, in particular for their valuable support to the university.

Following the meeting, participants also had a field trip to two local places, namely, Tailue Luangnue (Doi Saker) and Mae Kland Luang Village which are also two specific models of community-based tourism run by ethnic minorities. During the field trip, participants also listened to local authority sharing the King's support through tourism projects. Thanks to these practical projects, local community is inspired to live together with jungles and protect local resources and landscape so as to develop economy and overcome poverty through community-based tourism.

Listening to local authority's sharing

These two models have received positive reviews from participants as it has created connection and cooperation among the local in developing tourism and introducing their cultural identity to tourists. Among these reviews, Prof. Michael Murg appreciated the value of this model as the local, with their unwavering dedication, directly introduce their culture and local brand to tourists. He believed this model was going to further improve and spread in other places.

Enjoying local cultural performance in  Mae Klang Luang

To achieve successes at the moment, people in these two areas have received various support from local authorities as well as communication support through the media. It is the unity and dedication of the ethnic to forming their local brand that have created unique traits of mountainous villages; thus, attracts more people coming to experience local tourism.

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