Islanders win top ecotourism prize

PHANG NGA: An ecotourism strategy devised by the residents of Koh Yao Noi, off Phuket, has won a prestigious World Legacy Award, which will be presented later on today in Washington DC by Queen Noor of Jordan. The award, one of only three throughout the world for 2002, will be presented on Wednesday in the US capital to Jaranya Deangnoy, who flew from Bangkok for the presentation as the representative of Responsible Ecological Social Tours. (REST). The award, for tourism businesses, organizations or attractions that contribute to cultural heritage and diversity, comes from the National Geographic Traveler magazine and Conservation International as part of a global campaign to promote environmentally, culturally, and socially responsible tourism practices. The 5,500 Muslim residents of Koh Yao Noi have resisted conventional tourism developments and opted instead for a low-impact strategy that brings visitors to see their traditional way of life. Queen Noor was quoted earlier as saying, “These winners are perfect examples of the way the travel and tourism industry should operate.”