Home stay project aims to provide tsunami relief

PHUKET: The Employer’s Confederation of Thailand (ECOT) will launch a “home stay” pilot project this month in a bid to help tsunami sufferers get long-term income.

“The project will be launched on Koh Lone and at Cape Panwa, Ao Makham, Khao Khat and Baan Bo Rae. The idea is that local people will welcome foreigners into their homes so the visitors can learn the local culture and lifestyle and the locals will derive income for themselves and their communities,” ECOT Executive Director Siriwan Romchatthong explained.

She said that the project is intended to complement the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s “Be My Guest” home-stay campaign for tourists to enjoy home stays in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi from December 23 to 29.

Koh Lone will be the first place to receive guests, with the other sites being promoted after surroundings have been improved and local people have been trained in how to be good hosts, K. Siriwan explained.

Kemchitra Chatraporn, National Consultant to the International Labor Organization (ILO) Post-Tsunami Livelihood Recovery in the Tourism Sector project, of which the home-stay project is a part, said that the project has been funded by US$20,000 (about 827,000 baht) from the United Nations Development Program.

K. Kemchitra added that the ILO has launched several projects to support long-term recovery in tsunami-hit areas, including a course that started in July that trained jobless hospitality and tourism staff in maintaining a service-minded attitude, as well as teaching them English language and leadership skills, so that they will remain attractive potential employees.

Other courses organized by the ILO focused on evacuation training and crisis management.

Eam Thavornwongwongse, President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, said he supported the home-stay project.

“This is a good idea to develop sustainable tourism by channeling a project through local people. Tourists can experience local people’s way of life, and local communities can be proud of their culture and environment,” K. Eam said.

Anyone visitor interested in home stay should contact ECOT at Tel: 0066 (0) 2-2454310-4, Rawai Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) at Tel: 0066 (0) 76-288651 or the ILO at Tel: 0066 (0) 76-249276, Email: pk_tsunami@yahoo.co.th