Community Based Tourism
Finding the Euilibrium in the COMCEC Context
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The Ban Talae Nok Homestay Program project was arranged by Andaman Discoveries,
which puts emphasis on empowerment, training, and education and involvement of locals
in their projects. CBT was proposed for the Ban Talae Nok village since villagers were
concerned about the impact that conventional tourism may have on their traditions. The
villagers, therefore, considered the authentic nature of CBT, which highlights culture and
lifestyle, as a more sustainable form of income to that of conventional tourism.
Homestay Activities Schedule:
Day 1 - Upon arrival, tourists received a briefing on the organization and reviewed major
components listed in the pre-departure guide (e.g. health safety, expectations of homes,
etc.). Then, they were brought to the village where they were shown their room, which was
located in a village house. This was then followed by a tour of the village and an
information and question session.
Day 2 - After breakfast, the tourists had the opportunity to try producing typical Thai batik.
In the afternoon, they participated in mangrove restoration with some of the locals. The
tourists planted trees where the Tsunami had caused devastation. They learned to give a
Thai massage. The evening activity included a barbecue for dinner on the beach with some
of the villagers before dressing up in Muslim clothes, which was called a cultural exchange.
Day 3 - Participants went fishing with some villagers. After lunch, the tourists prepared for
their departure.
A case study on preferences of tourists revealed that tourists’ desire for authenticity as well
as their interaction with hosts were the major draws for why tourists consume a homestay.
The theoretical basis of the study was the “front and back” model, where the front is made
up of what is obviously presented to the tourist, whereas the back is the area of the locals’
private lives. It is assumed that having a “back” means that there is more to the culture than
what meets the eyes, which is assumed to be the authentic and untouched, and is thus
especially interesting to tourists as it includes “real life.”
Tourists’ evaluation of the activities in the homestay program revealed that the activities
brought them closer to Thai traditions and learning of these traditions and participating in
these activities could serve as a bridge between villagers and tourists. However, the
tourists explained that the interaction between hosts and guests seemed sometimes
stressed because of the lack of ability to communicate. Also, the activities were not always
sufficiently explained and the tourists did not always understand what they were supposed
to do. Tourists also mentioned that despite staying with Thai families, there was little
interaction between the tourists and the hosts. This was due to tourists’ having meals on
their own with locals serving them. In the end, it seemed to some tourists that the locals
CASE 2 – Thailand: Ban Talae Nok Homestay Program