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View Full Version : Eco-tourism redevelopment?


Yappofloyd
06-10-06, 06:41 PM
This has been mooted for some time but I really don't understand how it it being sold as "eco-tourism"!?! Is BMA calling it eco-tourism just because they are not demolishing heritage areas and building shopping centres?

ECO-TOURISM Rattanakosin development gets go-ahead
SUPOJ WANCHAROEN Bkk Post 06/10/06

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has given the green light to push ahead with an 80-million-baht redevelopment plan for the eco-tourism attractions on Rattanakosin Island, including Ban Bu community-Wat Suwannaram. Deputy Bangkok Governor Buddhipongse Punnakanta said Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin agreed to the plan after the committee overseeing the project submitted its study last week.

Mr Buddhipongse said the renovation, expected to be completed within two years, is divided into two phases. The first phase involves improving the piers at Wat Thong market and Wat Suwannaram (Wat Thong) and laying tiles on the footpath along Khlong Bangkok Noi from Ban Bu community to Wat Suwannaram. There will also be improvements to the sewage system and lighting facilities, with some re-landscaping work to be done.

The deputy Bangkok governor said the second phase calls for the redevelopment of Ban Bu community, home to bronze bowl handicrafts, Wat Thong Market, and a cluster of Thai traditional houses in the neighbourhood.
Chanin Rungsaeng, project coordinator, said the various sectors would be invited to help run the project in the future. Mr Chanin revealed that the second-phase improvement ran into problems after tenants who rented space in the Wat Thong market refused to give up their rights to occupancy in order to facilitate its redevelopment. He said many hung on to their tenancy rights after learning the area will be upgraded to a tourist attraction.

Jromerz
20-10-06, 03:25 PM
Maybe they got the terms 'eco-tourism' and 'sustainable tourism' mixed up.. sounds like it...

Sustainable tourism is more focussed on making sure that the site is able to support itself in the long run, includes the input from locals, government, other stakeholders -- basically they all need to be represented. The projects should maximize positive and minimize negative impacts (social, economic, environmental) ..
Basically it takes more effort than just saying "hey, we need to make this area profitable! Let's build some touristy stuff!" .... But that means that it is very difficult to implement the concept successfully, maybe impossible for it to work out perfect...

GWR
10-03-07, 07:36 PM
BMA is to refurbish inner city areas into an early Rattanakosin style

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Governor is conducting a survey along historical moats and canals in the inner city with an aim to restore the landscape in the area into the early Rattanakosin era, as part of the celebrations on the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King.

Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin said the BMA plans to renovate the area along the 1,700-metre long Phadung Krung Kasem (ผดุงกรุงเกษม) canal. The project is aimed at conserving historical sites of the early Rattankosin era. The BMA has assigned the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning to be responsible for the inspection and to study historical maps.

Mr. Apirak said that in the future the BMA will launch historical tours of the inner city by electric boats, in order to reduce pollution. The project is being designed as part of the celebration on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary as well.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255003100012