Locations
Mainstreaming biodiversity-based tourism in Thailand to support sustainable tourism development
Background and Development Challenges
Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s most biodiversity-rich countries, home to 555 threatened species, including iconic and endangered wildlife such as tigers, Asian elephants, and gaurs. The project’s demonstration landscape—Prachuap Khiri Khan province—encompasses ecologically significant areas like Kui Buri National Park, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, and the Pran Buri Estuary, which host diverse habitats including mangroves, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems.
Despite this richness, Thailand’s biodiversity faces mounting threats from illegal hunting, deforestation, overgrazing, destructive fishing, pollution, and unsustainable tourism. The rapid growth of tourism, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas, has led to habitat degradation, increased human-wildlife conflict, and pressure on natural resources.
Key development challenges include:
- Fragmented policy and institutional frameworks, hindering coordinated biodiversity and tourism planning.
- Lack of technical tools and methods to monitor and manage sustainable, biodiversity-based tourism.
- Inadequate financing mechanisms to channel tourism revenue into conservation and community livelihoods.
- Limited awareness and capacity among government agencies and local communities to manage overtourism and promote conservation-friendly tourism.
- COVID-19 impacts, which disrupted tourism flows and introduced new challenges in visitor management and economic recovery.
The project addresses these challenges by mainstreaming biodiversity into tourism policy and practice, enhancing local capacities, and promoting biodiversity-based tourism as a sustainable development pathway.
Objectives
To mainstream biodiversity conservation into tourism development and operations at national and local levels through policy integration and development of an integrated model for biodiversity-based tourism
Related Signature Solutions: UNDP Strategic Plan 2020-2025
- Poverty and Inequality
- Governance
- Resilience
- Environment
- Energy
- Gender Equality
Project Outcomes
This project aims to integrate biodiversity conservation into Thailand’s tourism development at national and local levels by aligning policies and creating a model for biodiversity-based tourism. Drawing on global best practices, it leverages nature-based tourism to promote sustainable development, conservation, and resilient livelihoods.
- Component 1 focuses on establishing an enabling national framework by developing a biodiversity-based tourism strategy, integrating biodiversity into tourism policies, and building institutional capacity. It addresses gaps in policy coherence and technical tools for sustainable tourism monitoring.
- Component 2 pilots an integrated model in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, targeting Kui Buri and Khao Sam Roi Yot National Parks and the Pran Buri Estuary. It strengthens planning, financing, and management of biodiversity-based tourism, while addressing post-COVID pressures and enhancing community-based tourism.
- Component 3 supports knowledge sharing, awareness, gender mainstreaming, and M&E. It promotes biodiversity-based tourism through digital platforms, outreach campaigns, and regional knowledge exchange.
The project covers over 132,575 ha of high-biodiversity areas, home to endangered species like tigers and elephants. It aims to reduce tourism’s ecological footprint, enhance environmental responsibility, and foster sustainable tourism practices across Thailand.
