Update 28/11/02

VILLAGER AND HOMESTAY TRAINING

A. NOTES TO FACILITATORS
1. Each of these workshops is based around a series of dicussions led by
a suitable facilitator. The discussions should pose some questions for
villagers so that they have a chance to think about each topic and make some
suggestions, ask questions or just express an opinion. hen the facilitator
then goes on to give some instruction, the villagers should be much more
receptive to his ideas.
!. The facilitator should note any points which meet real resistance, in
case there is an alternative method of achieving a particular objective.
". #ecause of the lack of a written language, it would be useful to find
some way of reminding the villagers in picture form of the various lessons in
this workshop. $ne way would be to have two columns with a picture showing
the correct way to do something %with a sign which showed approval, such as
a tick& and the wrong way %using a sign showing disapproval, such as a
cross&.
B. OR!SHO" FOR VILLAGE COUNCIL AND OTHER INFLUENTIAL
VILLAGERS #$a%ed &' Ste(e' S)*+pa'+ La& ,&de-.
''. (acilitator and participant introductions
- )ames
- *tate the purpose of the visit
'''. +iscussion on international tourists, and why are they interested in visiting
Thai hilltribe villages
- hat do tourists do when they visit your village,
- -alue . importance of conserving traditional culture
- -alue . importance of conserving Thai forest and wildlife
'-. /itigating cultural misunderstandings
- 0ave tourist1s ever committed any cultural 2errors3,
- hat are the main taboos in the village, %note 4 most important
prohibitions&
- hat does the village think about tourists taking photos,
- 0ow can we avoid cultural misunderstandings,
- Educate tourists
- Educate hosts
- 5void excessive alcohol consumption with tourists
- $ther,
-. 6ositive and negative aspects of tourism
- 6ositive7 8ood economic opportunity
- $pportunity to host visitors as partners
- (un
- $pportunity to exhibit 5kha9:ahu culture in a natural setting
- )egative7 'f not carefully designed, negative cultural and environmental
impacts
; Erosion of traditional culture
- 5nnoying outsiders
- )egative environmental impacts resulting from tourism
; +iscussion on food security in villages
; /oney can1t and should not be able to 2buy anything3 i.e. drugs, sex,
family
heirlooms
-. <eview the pre;trip orientation with the village, especially the cultural
guidelines
- no eating wildlife
- no drugs
- please don1t sell old artifacts
- <eview why this is so important
-'. -illage organi=ation
- 0ow does the village provide food and tourist services,
- *leeping arrangements,
- 0andicraft sales,
- 5sk the if and how they require assistance with organi=ing the trekking
operations
-''. *afety and emergency procedure
- (ood preparation and sanitation
- Excessive alcohol or drug consumption
- <eview emergency procedures if tourist, guide or villages is seriously ill
'f someone is seriously ill, get them to town as quickly and safely as possible,
the trekking office will pay for the evacuation
-'''. <eview government tourism policy
'>. -illage tour
- /eeting participants take facilitators on a 2tour3 of the village and show
them points of interest or facilitators identify what tourists are interested in
- (acilitators explain why tourists are interested in these seemingly common
areas of the village
- 'dentify areas that are 2off limits3 and note
- Also, ask if the village still practices kam ban (this is the custom of
prohibiting entry and exit into the village on certain days of the year)
>. )ext steps
; <eview the actions which have been generated as a result of the
workshop, who will carry them out and when there will be a follow;up meeting
to make sure everything agreed has been carried out.
C. OR!SHO" FOR VILLAGERS HO ILL OFFER HOMESTAY
ACCOMMODATION
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'. (acilitator and participant introductions
)ames
*tate the purpose of the visit
''. +iscussion on international tourists, and why are they interested in
visiting Thai hilltribe villages
hat do tourists do when they visit your village,
-alue . importance of conserving traditional culture
-alue . importance of conserving Thai forest and wildlife
'''. +iscussion on the needs of tourists
hat have tourists asked for in the past,
hat do you think are the most important issues for tourists when they
stay in your home, hat have been the problems from a villager
viewpoint, %/ake a note of issues for the next section&
'-. +etailed list of tourist needs
%Each of these will have a list of requirements for the villagers&
*ome things to discuss7
Toilets %showing tourists toilet facilities, ensuring there is a door to the
toilet which closes, clean the toilet, ensure a bag for tissues, ensure the
route to the toilet is clear of rubbish and a tourist can make his9her way
easily in the middle of the night&
*howers ? especially for long;stay guests who are doing physical work
%somewhere to shower, somewhere to hang clothes while showering,
somewhere to wash hands&
(ood cleanliness and preparation %wash hands before preparing food,
wash food thoroughly, wash cooking and eating utensils&
(ood content %agree ingredients with organiser, who will check whether
there are any special needs for each trip&
@leanliness of house %clean and tidy before tourists arrive&
Explaining about village lifestyle to tourists if tourists are interested
%origin of food, how it is prepared, etc&
*leeping arrangments %agree standard bedding and arrange for
additional beeding to be provided and stored in village, agree how
singles9couples will be organised, etc&
Entertainment after dinner %option ? demos of handicraft techniques,
games, children singing, etc. Each household should have a couple of
activitities which they are comfortable for the guide to introduce.&
6olicy on alcoholic drinks for tourists %allowed, prices, shared with
hosts,&
0andicrafts ? should we allow these or not in the host home, should we
allow others to come in the homestay house and offer them,
Emergencies
-'. Things to avoid when tourists are around
%*omsak can suggest some which have occurred in the past,&
no eating wildlife
no drugs
please don1t sell old artifacts
need to decide about alcohol
-''. *afety and emergency procedure
(ood preparation and sanitation
Excessive alcohol or drug consumption
<eview emergency procedures if tourist, guide or villages is seriously ill
'f someone is seriously ill, get them to town as quickly and safely as
possible, /58 will pay for the evacuation
-'''.Tour of each house
/eeting participants take facilitators on a 2tour3 of the village and show
them each homestay house and points of interest or facilitators identify
what tourists are interested in. $ther householders may have
suggestions.
(acilitators explain why tourists are interested in these seemingly
common areas of the homestay house
'dentify areas that are 2off limits3 and note
'>. )ext steps
<eview the actions which have been generated as a result of the
workshop for each house, who will carry them out and when there will
be a follow;up meeting to make sure everything agreed has been
carried out.