Village to The World Project Launches 10 Innovative Model Communities for CSR Outing Tourism Targeting Corporate Customers

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), collaborated with 9 partners to organize the Village To The World Project to launch 10 innovative model communities with CSR Outing Tourism and invited organizations and private companies with CSR budgets to bring employees to experience the ways of life of people in rural communities and to engage in CSR activities. Companies listed in the Stock Exchange and companies located in industrial estates are invited to join the event to learn and to buy the CSR outing packages of these communities. TAT expects that the CSR Outing tourism program will generate annual income of 1 million baht for each community in 2017.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that “the Village To The World Project is established according to the strategy to empower the local people and strengthen their communities. The goal is to create innovative tourism programs to suit the potential and identity of each community and to increase marketing opportunities for these communities to generate revenues from tourism on a sustainable basis. This year, the project has launched its first program under the title "MEET IN THE VILLAGE #Best CSR Outing Ever," which is a CSR outing tourism package for corporate customers to explore and to develop the traditional identity and uniqueness of the communities further into a new CSR outing tourism program for corporate customers. In addition, the corporates are ensured that they will have unique experiences and enjoy the unique identities and diversity of the communities. Most importantly, everyone will feel the joy of giving and engage in CSR activities that benefit the communities."

In 2016, the project selected 10 communities with an annual income of less than 1 million baht and are small communities not well known to tourists, and further do not have tourist attractions but have potential in arts and cultures and ways of life which can be developed into activity-based tourism.

Since the beginning of this year, the project has surveyed and worked with 10 communities to develop community tourism models for CSR outings suitable for corporate customers. There are 10 model communities in total, including 3 communities from the northern region, 2 communities from the northeastern region, 3 communities from the central region and 2 communities from the southern region as follows:

• Baan Rai Kong Khing Community, Chiang Mai Province
• Mueang Kao Community, Sukhothai Province
• Baan Phra Bat Huai Tom Community, Lamphun Province
• Ku Ka Sing Community, Roi Et Province
• Khok Kong Community, Kalasin Province
• Baan Dong Yen Community, Suphan Buri Province
• Baan Tam Suea Homestay, Phetchaburi Province
• Baan Rimklong Homestay Community, Samut Songkhram Province
• Lee Led Community, Surat Thani Province
• Rawai Community Enterprise, Phuket Province

Today, the Village to The World Project will launch 10 innovative model communities with CSR outing tourism and has invited organizations in both the government and private sectors and listed companies to attend the event, such as PTT Public Company Limited, Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited, Tipco Foods Public Company Limited, CAT Telecom Public Company Limited and Safari World Public Company Limited etc.

In addition, the project also received support from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand who brought companies from its industrial estates to visit and purchase CSR outings to the communities.

Mr. Noppadon Pakprot , Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business said that “the project has cooperated with Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) and the Association of Thai Tour Operators (ATTO) to invite tour and seminar operators for Thailand's leading organizations to conduct panel discussion to expand market for CSR Outing tourism program to corporate customers at home and abroad. The project expects that this CSR Outing tourism model will be able to generate annual income of 1 million baht for each community in 2017. The ultimate goal of Village to The World Project is to create value and add value to new tourism model for communities and increase opportunity for them to generate income because tourism is a tool to strengthen the communities and allow them rely on themselves and be self-sustainable.”

CEO Village Ambassadors – famous CEOs invite you to join Outings in communities.

Dr. Verapong Chaiperm, Governor, Industrial Estate of Thailand | Baan Phra Bat Huai Tom

Lamphun, said, “Lamphun, although only a small province, is home to ancient Lanna history. As part of a Buddhist kingdom that prospered for over six hundred years, Lamphun is culturally diverse and is home to attractive lifestyles for many people. This is especially true at Baan Phra Bat Huai Tom. It is a community of Pga K’nyau (Karen people) who are deeply faithful to Buddhism. The community adheres to the Five Precepts and is vegetarian. I think corporations with executives and employees who enjoy making visits to temples, making merit and bringing good fortunes to their lives, would certainly like this place.

Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, Chief Executive Officer, Bangkok Airways PCL. | Mueang Kao Sukhothai, said, “The year is coming to an end. If a corporation is planning an outing, I propose Mueang Kao Sukhothai . Sukhothai has an ancient history and culture. There are many stories, places and great Sukhothai food. The flight from Bangkok to Sukhothai is only an hour. It’s exhausting to sit in cars; so just fly there instead. We can do many things to help the community survive sustainably. And Sukhothai has a lot to offer. Aside from the historical sites where Sukhothai

triumphs in terms of ancient sites, the people still offer cultural activities that are the signatures of Sukhothai. You can compete and test out your skills and take photographs of the many great scenes. Oh, and don’t forget to ride the Rot Khok Mu in Sukhothai.”

Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld, Chief Executive Officer, Thai Air Asia | Ban Rai Kong Khing, Chiangmai, said, “Ban Rai Kong Khing is a small, charming Lanna (northern Thai) community. Our Air Asia employees are always coming up with ideas and taking part in activities in the community, especially on promoting English skills so the community can communicate more readily and confidently, as Chiangmai is a major tourist destination for foreigners. Recently, community members, children, and adults have been showing the village to great interest and attention. If any public or private agency would like to organize an outing and community CSR, we believe Ban Rai Kong Khing is the place to do it. It is certainly a fascinating option.”

Mr. Navamin Prasopnet, Managing Director, Mono Broadcast Co., Ltd. | Lee Led Community, Surat Thani, said, “In fact, Mono has been on outings and done mangrove-planting CSR activities

here on many occasions. But I have to admit, I am still in awe whenever I see the mangroves of Lee Led, Surat Thani. It is worthy of its nickname as “the Amazon of Thailand”. As for the community lifestyle, it has been converted into many fun team building competitions, such as the boating rally to find trees in the mangroves and the competition to increase the value of community shrimp pastes, the clam-digging competition, and the conservation slogan competition for the community. And what really impressed me was the firefly-watching boat trip at night. They gather around the Lamphu trees. It was a very beautiful and fun outing.”

Mr. Apirom Sukprasert, Senior Executive Vice-President, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) | Koh Lone Rawai, Phuket, said, “More adventurous corporations that love the blue seas and CSR activities will certainly like the outing program at Koh Lone. There, you can experience the fishermen’s lifestyle, eat freshly caught seafood and help the community construct much needed dams. You can enjoy your trip, learn how to make batik fabric and accomplish some useful tasks. Koh Lone is only about five kilometers from Phuket. There is no electricity there, so most people on the island use solar cell energy. At night looking back from Koh Lone at mainland Phuket, you see the lights brightly shining at night most energetically. Do you believe that you could find happiness amidst the quiet and peace at Koh Lone? I assure you that once you are there you won’t want to go back to Bangkok. And return trips are a must.”

Dr. Somporn Suebthawilkul, Managing Director, Dhipaya Insurance Public Company Limited. | Ban Rim Khlong Home Stay, Samut Songkhram, said, “At Ban Rim Khlong Home Stay, you will experience nature, traditional culture, and a beautiful community lifestyle. Rich with enchantment and emotional satisfaction in a rare lifestyle nowadays, I invite all companies who would like to organize outings or CSR trips to Ban Rim Khlong Home Stay, Samut Songkhram. The community needs great ideas from a new perspective that would improve community sustainability. I think this community is another favorite place for company outings and CSR trips. It’s sure to impress the employees in your organization.”

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand, invited all the organizations to be a part of the strategy to empower the people and strengthen the communities by participating in a CSR outing tourism program. By conducting activities in the communities, you are already helping in many ways. The communities would utilize your income to develop in numerous aspects and strengthen themselves in sustainable ways.

I would like to thank our partners for their cooperation in the operation to upgrade and add value to community tourism, including Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Dhipaya Insurance PCL, Bangkok Airways, Thai Air Asia, Mono Broadcast Co., Ltd. and N.C.C. Management & Development Co., Ltd. On behalf of Village to The World Project, I would like to offer all of you my genuine appreciation and hope that you will continue to support us moving forward.”

For more information on the CSR Outing program, please send your inquiry to:

Khun Tanyapon Siraprapadecho, Contact number: 094-8424545, E-mail: info@villagetotheworld.com

Khun Nandaparth Thanasukronthasit, Contact number: 064-2423555, E-mail: info@villagetotheworld.com

Khun Ittchaya Theerasong Contact number: 068-5132-9715, E-mail: info@villagetotheworld.com

For more information on the press and media of the project, please contact Project PR

Khun Thachasorn Assadathorn (Klao)

Mobile : 098-635-6365 , Email : 9@ninetynine99.com