The effort to develop Bo Suak as a sustainable tourism destination began around 2012, in line with Thailand’s national strategy to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into tourism policy. The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) identified Bo Suak’s potential as a small rural community where sustainable tourism could be developed without pressure for mass visitation.

Crucially, DASTA did not apply a top-down model. As Mr. Raksa Chaeng, a DASTA Nan official, explains, DASTA’s role is one of “mentorship and facilitation, with the strategic goal of enhancing the community’s capacity to manage, operate, and equitably distribute tourism income sustainably.” Development was therefore guided by a participatory, area-based approach rooted in co-thinking, co-planning, co-acting, co-responsibility, co-benefiting, and co-ownership.

After conducting comprehensive research on local resources and sensitivities, DASTA shared its findings with local authorities and village leaders to assess interest in tourism development. It then worked closely with local occupational groups to transform traditional livelihoods into experiential learning bases. Rather than simply producing goods for sale, artisans became storytellers, sharing the meaning, history, and cultural significance behind their crafts. Visitors engage in hands-on activities such as pottery, bamboo weaving, and textile weaving, creating meaningful exchanges between hosts and guests while adding value to local craftsmanship.

This inclusive process led to the formation of the Bo Suak Community-Based Tourism Promotion Club, composed of weaving groups, craft cooperatives, culinary groups, and other key sectors. The Club became the community’s management and decision-making hub, ensuring that tourism development remained community driven.

The Engine of Success: Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

DASTA placed strong emphasis on strengthening local capacity to transform cultural assets into sustainable tourism experiences. Residents were supported to design and deliver hands-on workshops, such as weaving, pottery, and craft-making, that allow visitors to engage with local heritage. Training also focused on building communication confidence, enabling community members to act as knowledgeable local guides and facilitators.

In parallel, communities were trained in Thailand’s GSTC-recognised Community-Based Tourism standards, covering areas such as governance and administration, socio-economic management, cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and service quality. These programmes progressively strengthened skills, confidence, and long-term motivation.

Impact and Recognition: A Scalable Model for Thailand and Beyond

Since formal development began in 2012, Bo Suak has achieved transformative results. Progress in community-based tourism helped leverage public investment in essential infrastructure, including improved roads, lighting, and water systems, delivering benefits well beyond the tourism sector. Tourism activities created new employment opportunities, diversified income sources, and contributed to a steady increase in visitors, from around 1,000–2,000 annually in the early post-COVID period to approximately 50,000 in 2023.

As Mr. Suthipong Duangmaneerat, Chair of the Bo Suak Community-Based Tourism Promotion Club, notes, “Tourism serves as a tool for developing and enhancing existing valuable resources, generating supplementary income and improving quality of life. Most importantly, we take pride in preserving our cultural heritage.” The UN Tourism Best Tourism Village award in 2024 further strengthened community pride and supported continued collaboration with government agencies to maintain and improve standards.

Today, Bo Suak is recognised as a leading case study within DASTA’s portfolio and actively shares its experience through national and international knowledge-exchange networks. The case demonstrates how strategic government guidance, combined with strong local ownership, can support sustainable tourism development. As one of Thailand’s leading community-based tourism examples, Bo Suak offers a practical model for how community-led approaches can safeguard cultural heritage while generating sustainable and equitable livelihoods.

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