Tourism brings money and opportunities to communities around the world, but it brings risks too. Sometimes an influx of tourists changes a place, damages the environment or leads to the exploitation of local people. But the social enterprise Local Alike has a different model. They have worked with dozens of villages in Thailand to get them ready before “opening up” to tourists. During this process, which can take months or even years, they help locals identify the meals, activities and sights that will interest visitors, and they bring in outside investment to improve the village. Then they help establish a fair stream of revenue for the community. We travel with Somsak Boonkam, the founder of Local Alike, as he faces his toughest challenge yet: to work with his own home town as it prepares for tourists. Presenter: Myra Anubi Producer/reporter: William Kremer Series Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Tom Bigwood Sound mix: Andrew Mills
People Fixing.
People Fixing the World.
Welcome to People Fixing the World from the BBC World Service with me, Mayra Anubi.
Now, grab your passport, because on the show I take you all around the world to explore new ideas that are making our planet a better place.
And this week, dear travelers, you and I are going to Thailand to find out about a radical idea that's trying to fix tourism so that it works for everyone.
Along the way, we'll be making silk, joining a traditional dance and tasting some chicken covered with ants.
Imagine that you live in a historical site and you've always lived there.
It's beautiful.
And then one day, a tour bus full of people arrives.
They get off the bus and they start taking photos of the area, maybe even some of you and your neighbours.
And then they get back on the bus and they leave.
The visitors have had a good time, but has life improved for you?
Tourism is big.
It's worth US$10 trillion to the global economy.
But the vast majority of that money goes to airlines and hotels and tour groups.
In fact, According to one UN, as little as 25% of the cash from international tourism goes to the host country.
And sometimes only a tiny amount actually trickles down to local people.
This problem is sometimes called tourism leakage, and I've seen it with my own eyes in places like my home country, Kenya, and also when I've had chances to visit other places like in South Africa.
So is there another way?
Well, our reporter William Kramer has been in Thailand to see how one project is trying, trying to put more power and more money in the hands of local people.