DASTA’s Outset to Declare Buriram as One of the Designated Areas
DASTA’s outset to declare Buriram as one of the Designated Areas
Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) held a public forum in order to discuss and exchange views on the scheme to declare Buriram Province as the new Designated Area for sustainable tourism with collaborative partners, intending to enhance economic growth, increase job security and boost local income rates and allocation. In this regard, the governor of Buriram Province also expressed his concurrence with DASTA’s initiative.
Gp. Capt. Athikun Kongmee, the Director-General of DASTA, remarked that this forum aimed to disseminate the useful knowledge obtained from the study on Buriram’s competency and potential to become designated area for sustainable tourism to DASTA’s partners from both public and private sectors as well as to receive feedbacks and suggestions on the matter from the concerned parties before setting the plan in motion.
With determination to be part of the driving force that strengthens Buriram’s capability as a designated area, DASTA wishes that this forum would lead to the constitution of Buriram as the new designated area for sustainable tourism that is publicly involved by all stakeholders. Correspondingly, DASTA has also introduced Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) and Sustainable Tourism Management Standard (STMS) as the toolkits which, accordinly, can be utilized to encourage income allocation among the locals through community-based tourist activities and to develop the capacity of the local authorities accountable for developing tourism of the communities under administration.
In the 2021 fiscal year, DASTA, in collaboration with the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Mahasarakham, has carried out the research on Buriram’s capability as a designated area for sustainable tourism. The study shows that Buriram Province acquires a high level of competency in tourism (81%), considering that the area is packed with natural, historical and social and cultural abundance. Following the completion of the study, DASTA proceeded to convene a brainstorming session for local partners i.e. responsible government organizations, private sectors, communities, educational institutions and local governing bodies to exchange their information and opinions on the matter, and proposed the drafted plan of the designated area for sustainable tourism of Buriram in September 2021.
Mr. Chaiwat Joonthirapong, the Deputy Governor of Buriram Province, affirmed that the people of Buriram are ready to work together in driving Buriram to become a designated area for sustainable tourism, which will contribute to the emergence of new jobs, higher income, and higher rate of income allocation of people in the community.
In terms of Buriram’s post COVID-19 policy on tourism development, the province has developed a new project on tourism “GU GUIDE Pha Tiew Buriram 365 Wan” in order to enhance Buriram’s potential as a tourist destination that is available for visit all year round as well as to create more local community guide jobs as alternative career opportunities for the locals. The GU GUIDE project opened an opportunity for Buriram’s local tourist communities and those who have interest in providing tourist services with vehicles (cars, motorcycles or tricycles) to participate in the project. The participants will receive training in providing tourist services as local guides and providing transportation services, and will be instructed on how to design tourist routes to enhance the performance of community-based tourism.
At the moment, Buriram is ready to welcome all the tourists to the province, considering itself in the stage of preparedness to boost its economy once the COVID-19 pandemic alleviates. Led by Buriram’s Office of Community Development, the activities to encourage community-based tourism have been held in more than 100 villages. Furthermore, the fruitfulness they have brought about has continuously been extended by Buriram’s Office of Tourism and Sports, DASTA’s Office of Designated Area 2 and related private sectors. If Buriram Province is officially authorized as one of the designated areas for sustainable tourism, the development to follow would definitely be regarded not only on domestic scale but also on international level.
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