Thais blend profit with social good
China Daily | Updated: 2017-10-09 07:06
Entrepreneurs setting up companies with a conscience
BANGKOK - Six years ago, Somsak "Pai" Boonkam drew up a plan with two villages in northern Thailand for tourists to stay with local families and immerse themselves in hill-tribe culture. The aim was for the villagers to see some financial benefit from their country's multibillion-dollar tourism industry.
Pai was sure it would be a hit with tour operators in Bangkok - but he was wrong. "They weren't even interested to go and inspect the places," he said.
That pushed the former engineer, now 34, to set up Local Alike, a travel consultancy that promotes sustainable tourism in 70 villages.
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