27 July 2007

27 July 2007

Experience of a Successful Eco-lodge Operator

The Lisu Lodge, ThailandBy K.Chananya Phataraprasit

Director

27 July 2007

The principles of a win-win collaboration with a local Cultural Minority :

Cultural Minorities can benefit from Tourism industry

Alternative revenues Increase self esteem through business partnership Better living standards without sacrificing but

rather promoting the local culture Access to the international market/world

Tourism in enriched by Cultural minorities. Unique selling point : bio-diversity (exoticism) A network of diversified and dedicated suppliers The long term involvement of the local community

27 July 2007

The history of Lisu Lodge

Founded in 1993 in a Lisu Village 1H North of Chiang Mai

Initially a 4 rooms – 1 bathroom house built by the villagers

Rebuilt in 1995 at the outskirt of the village as a 6 rooms /6 bathrooms on the design of the local houses.

Developed in 2002 as a compound of 4 houses of 6 rooms each + 3 staff houses , a market area for local handicraft.

Upgraded in 2005 with a local style steam bath ,

27 July 2007

The dedicated and exclusive involvement of the Lisu

community • 100% of the staff is from the village

• Local costume and culture has been resuscitated , enhanced and displayed.

• Lisu and Visitors are in direct contact

•Self esteem was restored

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Activities operated with the community

We introduced

Safety standard

Reliability

Insurance

Guiding

Sense of timing

Sense of commitment

Cleanliness

The Community bring:

The local Knowledge

The skills

The daily care of animals

The staff

The local connections

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The whole village is involved

Village Benefits & Contribution :

• Local Handicraft sold to visitors

• Local Museum was developed by the head man

• The Lisu culture is explained with the contribution of the local Shaman.

•The village is kept clean

•No handicraft selling is done outside the dedicated shops

•Kids are not allowed to beg

•Costume is widely used

27 July 2007

Professional management

Operation run like a hotel chain

•Budget

•Cost control

• Human resource management ( training)

Any long term success of an eco tourism project

is dependent on two critical factors:

there has to be total and sustained focus on the careful

preservation of the cultural diversity of the site.

as well as a radical business approach

27 July 2007

The dedicated marketing

ASIAN OASIS : Mythical Journeys

A clear POSITIONING Low density High quality

Eco-friendlyCultural conservation

Relevant for most foreign visitors

An experience to remembersComfort and safety.

Professional BUSINESS PRACTICE Friendly priced

Pragmatic approach to distributionReliable and trustworthy

Sustainable tourism Renewable energy

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Dedicated Marketing

Marketing Budget

BrochuresWeb site

Advertising Trade shows

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Growing but controlled numbers

Year overnight Day visit1993 400 Old lodge of 4 rooms1994 8001997 1,500 500 New lodge of 6 rooms + New Day tours 2000 2,000 600 2001 2,500 1,000 2004 5,000 5,000 We reach Main tour Operators brochures2005 5,000 6,000 we limit lunches 2006 7,000 3,000

pax

We gain awards and build new 18 rooms and

What made the difference?

Consistency lead to recognition and to award winning

Award winning lead to Tour Operators brochures

Brochure dispatching lead to Public awareness.

Tomorrow Internet will be the key factor

Any failure to keep the product integrity would turn the Lisu Lodge into a mediocre guest house

27 July 2007

Our issues

Eco-friendly equipments are not available :

Solar water heater 4 times more expensive than gas

No clean vehicles No garbage sorting No recycling

It is difficult to conduct business in remote areas

ID and Land title is limited Education do not promote

minority culture Killing of wild animal still wide

stayed No capacity assessment . Any

success story is in danger to create its own destruction ( Sea Canoes, River rafting , Elephants are over used )

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Our Hopes and solutions

Work with Associations and NGOs

PDA and PATA have help build pilot project like Lor Chart .

Conference & seminar

Training , training and training

Promote through PR and example Award winning

1998 Best Lodge Award from TravelAsia

Conservation International's Ecotourism Excellence Award 2000

PATA's 2000 Gold Award of Ecotourism & Cultural Diversity

British Airways' Tourism For Tomorrow Award:200 Highly Recommended Accommodation

27 July 2007

Conclusion

The Lisu Lodge is living proof that the basic principles of responsible tourism can be turned into a successful business. As a pilot project it has set a new standard for local community involvement.

We hope we are empowering hill tribe people to choose

their own destiny from a position of strength and understanding. We are in fact using the power of the tourist dollar to slow down and hopefully even reverse environmental and cultural degradation. At the same time we hope that our guests are going back home with respect for other cultures.