Stories tagged with sustainable
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Pattaya shoots for sustainable tourism
Following in the wake of travel destinations like Koh Chang and the Chiang Mai Night Safari, Pattaya is trying to declare eight zones in the city Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA). With officials from all eight zones on board, the proposal has now been sent to the Thai Cabinet for official approval.
Although the concept has sound fundamentals concerning maintaining the environment, social traditions and cultural values, the scheme is also seen as merely being a vehicle for getting government funding for pipedreams and self-serving mega projects.
DASTA was created by the government in 2003 to ensure balanced tourism development in special areas that were considered valuable and potentially under threat. The group’s duties include conserving natural resources and cultural values in existing communities where tourism is an economic mainstay. DASTA is also designed to manage the impact of tourism as sites expand in the future.
New master conservation projects are planned for Rayong’s Koh Samet islands, Krabi’s Koh Lanta islands, and the Nongteng-Chakkarat forest in Nakhon Ratchasima. Pattaya’s mayor is trying to get Pattaya City included as one of DASTA’s new areas to ensure sustainable tourism development. One obvious issue would be how to classify the cultural value of Pattaya’s rampant sex industry.
Posted by: Andrew on 09 Oct 2008, 15:50