OTOP, the government's One Tambon One Product scheme, has been successful in focussing attention on the craft traditions of the regions of Thailand that continue to live through the work of today's village artists and craftsworkers.
There is a ready market for their creative work, and also a growing interest in the villages where it is produced, and this has led the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to build on the success of OTOP and to extend its range. It has launched a pilot project to develop the potential of OTOP villages in each region of Thailand as tourism destinations. The name of the project is "OTOP Tourism Villages."
These villages are already noted for their hand-made products sold under the OTOP flag which have won the admiration of local people and also visitors from overseas. They also possess resources that will make them feasible tourist destinations on their own: a viable homegrown industry, native art and culture and places of interest.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports support the village communities with necessary training programmes and workshops related to tourism development and promotion. These will include utilising information technology in the administration and management of tourism, assisting tourism development and promotion.
When village communities are encouraged to take part in the planning and running tourism-related activities and experiencing cultural exchanges with visitors, they will develop a sense of communal pride and become more self-sufficient.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports also work with other government ministries as well as local administrative organisations, and private and community groups to ensure that the development of OTOP villages into OTOP Tourism Villages is directed towards sustainable tourism in the long run.
Rather than simply making a shopping stop to buy 5-star OTOP products, visitors to the OTOP Tourism Village will be able to add value to their holiday with home stay accommodation at the village. Every OTOP Tourism Village has an interesting atmosphere with its own stories to tell, as well as the fascinating processes of designing and making their art and craft products.
Since January 2004, eight OTOP Tourism Villages have been established as tourist attractions by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports with the Office of Tourism Development and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
They are Ban Thawai in Chiang Mai, whose speciality is wood carving; Doi Mae Salong in Chiang Rai with its tea plantations where oolong and green tea are grown and processed; Ban Dan Kwian in Nakhon Ratchasima and Ko Kret in Nonthaburi, both well known for their unique and very different kinds of pottery and ceramics; Ban Khiriwong in Nakhon Si Thammarat for its natural tie-dyed fabrics; Ban Bang Cho Cha in Ang Thong for its fine bamboo basketry; Ban Don Kaidee in Samut Sakhon for its delicate and colourful Benjarong ware, and Ban Aranyik in Ayutthaya, famous for the high quality of its blades and cutlery.
No comments:
Post a Comment