FROM RELIEF TO SELF RELIANCE
Andaman Discoveries (AD) began as a relief NGO in the aftermath of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Over time, the company focused on livelihood rehabilitation through community based tourism. We facilitated helping locals in English language, leadership, computers and sustainable tourism development through community based tourism.
AD offers responsible homestay, volunteering, study and service trips and also regional tours in these communities, which have created numerous employment opportunities through homestay, handicraft production and guiding. Mandatory contribution to the community fund from guests provides financial support to run village-wide projects such as adult education, recycling, and youth-led conservation programs. Our programs accrue value to the whole village by giving 25% of CBT income to community-led projects. The fact that tourists are spending their money to see natural habitats and experience traditional ways of life shows the community the importance of preserving these assets. This understanding will also help keep mass tourism, which usually exploits the locals and brings environmental degradation, from entering their communities.
Opportunities such as homestay, guiding, and handicrafts have also created new jobs for women who previously had no employment, yet utilize their existing skills. AD also helped the village tourism committees to increase their capacity to ensure ongoing benefit from tourism – both in terms of marketing and interweaving tourism with community development
MEET THE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM CHANGEMAKERS
Meet TUI, Thamrong Chomphusri, director of Andaman Discoveries. Community developer for Tsunami victims in 2004 with 18 years of experience in community tourism for sustainable tourism using world-class development tools for local communities in Thailand. To create an innovative approachto community-based tourism to help promote knowledge sharing. caring for the environment and cultural exchange through sustainable tourism practices.
ANDAMAN DISCOVERIES is committed to growing our company in a sustainable manner. We work towards addressing global issues such as climate change, human rights, nature conservation and sustainability through community based tourism. Our programs are created in collaboration with the communities in which we work and use local resources to have a positive human, environmental and financial impact. We pledge to always take into consideration the impact on both the environment and culture, and aim to provide a better quality of life for our communities, guests and partners. We seek to create innovative approaches to help foster knowledge sharing, environmental stewardship, and cultural exchange through sustainable tourism practices. We have also made a firm commitment towards social and environmental sustainability throughout our supply chain. To further adhere to our commitment to sustainability, we pledge to follow our policies
WHO WE ARE: THE HEART OF RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Address: 175 Moo 1 Kura, Kuraburi, Phang Nga 82150
Tel: +66879177165
Email: info@andamandiscoveries.com
Website: http://www.andamandiscoveries.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndamanDisco/
Founded Year: 2005
Tourism Business License: Inbound 34/01223
Destinations: Phang Nga, Krabi, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phuket
Expertises: Tourism Development, Homestay, Community Based Tour, Cultural Tour, Educational Tour, Volunteer Tour
Awards: World Legacy Award 2017, Skal, Wild Asia, Todo Awards, Green Destination 2016 - 2018, Thailand Green Excellence Awards, Virgin Holidays RT awards
