Andaman Discoveries is a social enterprise that combines eco-tours, homestays and volunteer opportunities with handicrafts production, education and vocational training. Formed in January 2005 it has since been nominated as a finalist in BBC’s World Challenge 2009 and received the ‘Best Green Tour Operator’ award from the Tourism authority of Thailand. Founding member Bodhi Garrett reveals how it all came about.

Photographs by Craig Lovell

On 26 December 2004, my world changed forever. Before the tsunami, I was working at a small eco-resort on the island of Koh Phra Thong in southern Thailand. Then the killer waves destroyed the resort and its surrounding communities. I happened to be in the United States at the time, but I came back to do what I could for the people I had come to love and respect.

In the first week of January, working with a mobile phone, a borrowed computer, some salvaged furniture and a small group of volunteers, we started a relief project that grew from simple fresh food delivery into a sustained effort of more than 120 projects in a dozen villages.

These poignant experiences led me to forming Andaman Discoveries.

One of our partner communities, Ban Talae Nok was devastated by the tsunami – the lower half of the village and school were swept away, with eight children and their teacher inside.  A government official sent to assess the situation said he could see no sign that humans had ever lived there. The only trace was a kids’ swing left swaying in the wind.

In the aftermath of this horror, many of our projects in Ban Talae Nok focused on education and income generation for women, a group previously discouraged from economic activity.  The tsunami also allowed for the unchecked growth of tourism. Thai communities would watch helplessly as investors bought up land and drained the benefits away from the villages.

The people of Ban Talae Nok and surrounding villages are determined see that tourism serves the goals of the community, allowing progress to coexist with the traditional fishing culture.  So far, they have been successful – community tourism has generated steady income and international recognition, while also supporting a children’s center, orchid conservation, and other community development projects.

The crucial element of Andaman Discoveries’ approach is that the communities themselves are the driving force behind the initiatives. Each community makes its own decisions about how they ‘do’ tourism. They are empowered to engage in tourism on their own terms. This means that holiday-makers, families, volunteers, and study groups can take part in distinct activities that are as special as the communities themselves.

Here is a sampling of possible experiences:

Eco Tours: Jungle hiking, uninhabited islands, snorkeling trips, mangrove exploration, orchid conservation, relaxing by a waterfall, and cycling

Hands-On Fun: Traditional fishing with local fishermen, rubber tapping, roasting cashew nuts, beach clearance, language exchange with local guides, conservation work, and piloting new tourist activities.

Cultural Exchange: Interactive workshops with the women’s handicraft groups, weaving palm roofs, riding in a long-tail boat, a puppet show with a local youth group, and Thai cooking lessons.

Long-Term Volunteering: We offer placements at special needs schools, as well as teaching English at the Burmese Learning Center at Kuraburi Pier. We also arrange study and service tours for groups.

The beauty of Andaman Discoveries is that many activities just happen naturally as the guests become part of village life. Guests may find themselves roasting cashew nuts, fruit harvesting or even weaving fishing nets, always with a translator and local guide on hand. The homestay experience is strongly recommended to appreciate the genuine warmth and kindness of villagers, which is something that cannot be replicated otherwise.

Andaman Discoveries specially designed comprehensive support material, Phrasebook, and bilingual staff allow people to make the most of their time in the village. Our translators allow guests to really engage with the villagers, to assist the local guide when highlighting points of interest and explaining the region’s fascinating eco-systems. Beyond the village setting, Andaman Discoveries arranges stays at top-notch eco-resorts and world-class snorkeling getaways. Experiences are designed for everybody, regardless of age or ability, including mature and single travelers.

With the increasing popularity of responsible tourism, eco-tourism and community based tourism, many organizations, tour operators and communities are realizing its potential to generate positive change.  However, it’s important to realize that community-based tourism is not a quick fix solution. It requires more than simply deciding which houses will serve as homestays and which community members will be the guides. It takes time, dedication, training and cross-cultural sensitivity on the part of both the communities and their supporters.

Andaman Discoveries’ relationships with the communities are open and transparent.  Monthly meetings and one-on-one discussions with community members ensure that all voices are heard and any issues addressed. The role of Andaman Discoveries is that of advisor and facilitator. It serves as the link between the village and the guests. This village-led approach is crucial to the success of community-based tourism; without it the initiatives would have a reduced chance of success and long-term sustainability.

Andaman Discoveries is receiving increasing recognition for its role as a leader in sustainable tourism.  Recently, the group was named as a finalist in the BBC’s World Challenge 2009 and received the “Best Green Tour Operator” award from the Tourism authority of Thailand.

Honors in 2008 included the Global Vision Award from Travel + Leisure Magazine, and the 2008 SEED Initiative, awarded by the United Nations to innovative, locally-led solutions to the global challenges of sustainable development.  In both 2007 and 2008, Andaman Discoveries was recognized by the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards (the foremost in the world) for Best Preservation of Cultural Heritage and as finalists in the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards.

In the last three years, community-based tourism (CBT) has generated more than $100,000 USD in additional income for the communities which Andaman Discoveries works with. This supplementary income has helped to reduce the pressure on local natural resources, such as ever-decreasing fish stocks, as well as contributing to community development.

In addition, all guests make a mandatory 20% donation to the community fund to support in-village projects such as recycling, waste management, mangrove conservation, environmental education, vocational training and scholarships for 120 children.  The new opportunities are also helping to change conservative attitudes. Parents now see how a daughter’s income can contribute to their recovery and future well-being.

When we started work back in January of 2005, we thought of Andaman Discoveries as a small-scale effort that would help with short-term, emergency needs.  Never did we dream that it would become the central catalyst in helping so many villages recover from the tsunami, empowering them to move from relief to self-reliance.

To learn more about visiting the Andaman Coast, you can visit www.AndamanDiscoveries.com, or email info@andamandiscoveries.com.