What can we do to prevent traditional Thai cultures from disappearing? With the APPEAR project, the sisters Achi and Mint from HiveSters develop sustainable tourism products in Thailand, aiming to improve the living conditions of the „disappearing“ communities.
Also in 2017, Thailand is setting new agendas. Mainly the support of the local people, whether by education, initializing of projects to improve the local living conditions, support of farming or creation of authentic trips in the tourism sector. The latter is still a main economic factor in Thailand. The aim is to grow the income, or more specific, the livelihood of the locals and to retain disappearing, cultural heritage and beauty of nature as well as effecting positive social changes.
HiveSters
The sisters Achi and Mint from HiveSters aim to cause a rethinking of the tourism industry of Thailand. It is their mission, to share authentic travel experiences and to carry a strong influence on the tourism industry of Thailand. They believe, that sustainable activities could generate real fun. HiveSters would like to generate direct effects on the local people and to help promoting their sustainable activities. The team is working closely with local communities, social enterprizes and individuals, and together with those parties, HiveSters is improving and developing quality products in order to create an interest towards foreign travelers.
The APPEAR project
Since 2015, HiveSters is co-operating with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Bangkok Tourism Division and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) as well as AirAsia Thailand. This is the first time establishing an alliance between private entities, public authorities and NGO's. The aim is to develop sustainable tourism products in Bangkok and the improvement of living conditions of so called „disappearing“ communities in Bangkok. APPEAR is connecting six local communities with six urban hotels. There are still many citizens located in tourist areas that do not benefit from tourism. In Bangkok, many of them are living in historic urban communities, unfortunately living on the breadline of life and struggling not to lose their culture and local identity.
When Responsibility Creates Fun!
The local people could offer travelers unique experiences, however it mostly does not work because of lacking education and professionalism in terms of product management and promotion. At the same time, city hotels in Bangkok. At the same time, urban hotels are increasingly interested in implementing sustainability policy for employee retention, guest experience and brand reputation. So this is why HiveSters initiated the project APPEAR.
The communities include Nang Loeng, Bang Lamphu, Ban Bu, Koh Sarn Chao, Bang Kradi and Hua Takhe, the matching hotels are namely Sukosol Hotels (partnering with the Nang Loeng Community), the Erawan Group (partnering with the Bang Lamphu Community), the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit (partnering with the Ban Bu Community), The Sukhothai Hotel (partnering with the Koh Sarn Chao Community), the Anantara Riverside Hotel (partnering with the Bang Kradi Community) and finally the Banyan Tree Bangkok (partnering with the Takhe Community).
