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Eco-Development, The Seacanoe Way
ARTICLES, SPEECHES AND OTHER READING
CAVEMAN'S MEDIA
ECO-DEVELOPMENT, THE SEACANOE WAY
John "Caveman" Gray
The Nation, March 1994
Today's environmentalists often look at capitalism as an
agent for environmental protection. Scientists frequently recommend
"Eco-tourism" projects to protect shrinking wildlife habitats and create
environmental awareness; and conservationists study how management structure
affects environmental policy.
SCUBA diving took my family to Mexico in the 50's and 60's. As an
adolescent, I watched the 20th Century hit rural Mexico with a Pandora's Box
of treasures good and bad. I felt there must be a way to emphasize the
positive side of development, so after 25 years of blending conservation,
economics and management, Pacific Outdoor Adventures was born in Honolulu in
1983. Rather than being finger pointing missionaries, our style is to laugh
at the mistakes of the West, and learn the easy way.
Polynesia was fun, but most Pacific Islanders already live sustainable
lifestyles. ASEAN's "rocket economies" is where today's action is. To make a
difference, we had to relocate. Phang Nga offered a great day trip near
Phuket. Thailand was booming, but conservation was a whisper in the closet,
so in December, 1989, I told Diethelm's Luzi Matzig we would subvert him
from within by proving that decentralized, sustainable "adventure tourism"
could be better business than traditional travel. Pacific Outdoor Adventures
became Sea Canoe Thailand.
In many ways, Sea Canoe is an NGO, but we must be profitable to encourage
others to try our ideas. Based on traditional free market "Adam Smith"
Economics, our basic challenge is creating a sustainable advancement of
Thailand's Quality of Life balanced by protecting Thailand's remaining
natural resources. Our Bottom Line is that Adam Smith (the founder of
"Economics") rules Conservation policy. No piece of paper ever stopped a
poacher, but a good job and opportunity just might do the trick. However,
commercializing Nature is playing with Fire. Our Planet rarely withstands
the onslaught of unchecked Greed, so we must re-write Smith's classic
"Wealth of Nations" at the Golden Gates of "Eco-tourism". Without controls,
we kill the Goose and the Golden Egg.
Especially in Thailand's "Five Years and Out" business culture,
sustainability is a lofty thought indeed, so Sea Canoe emphasizes business
ethics and environmental planning. We try to foster harmony by emphasizing
the universal strengths of all sustainable economies - creativity over
copy-cats, who drain a nation's pride, creativity and international
relations: decentralization of business structures and decision making:
strong business ethics: enlightened human resources with participatory
management and company-sponsored professional development programs: and
community-wide interest in science.
Why Commercialize Pristine Sites?
When we commercialized the Hongs, we knew we opened a Pandora's Box - one
that can just as easily backfire as benefit the Kingdom. These natural
treasures were a dramatic "discovery". One way or another, they would soon
become an international example of how Thailand manages its environmental
stewardship. We had no choice. When we found our first Hong, Phuket tours
were entering the lower Bay, and Farang yachters were already partying in
the larger caves - laughing, shouting and running motors. There was no
conservation planning. The only way to protect the Hongs was to
commercialize them, create an ecological awareness, and become an example of
sustainable environmentalism. Our self-imposed volume limits are determined
not by our business interests, but by the sites themselves. Planning is
essential for sustainability, but Thailand doesn't have much, so we decided
to set the example. We wanted to show that an operator can succeed
financially, even with self-imposed environmental constraints.
It worked 99% of the way. Most agents respected the volume limits and lived
with their frustrations. Only one group abuses our volume commitment. A
copy-cat is an expected clich้ in Thailand, but don't tell that to the
Hongs. The reality is that these parasites don't know our technical
specialty, over-impact sites without realizing it, and live off our image.
Turning the Hongs into another James Bond Island for nothing but greed, they
steal from our ideas and marketing, their customers expectations and
Thailand's international image.
Where Does Thailand Go From Here?
An environmental planner recently told me these international treasures are
doomed within five years, and Thailand's image will suffer irreparable
damage. My reply was that without proper planning. the entire country is
lost. (Other environmental planners say it is already to late, and our
efforts are futile.) I look beyond the Hongs to the drought (thanks to
defoliating the entire country), the death of the Gulf's fishery, and
Bangkok's traffic as examples that without planning and acceptance of the
rules, the future for "The Land of the Free" is not pretty.
Hopefully the symbolic acts of a small yet high profile sea kayaking company
can make a difference. That's why we race against time to encourage
environmental awareness, responsible Nature Tourism, and lobby for National
Parks planning and permitting. We pay our taxes and refuse corruption. No
nation can never grow strong without creative thought, so we speak up
against the negative energy of copy-cats.
Credentialing is unknown here, but we have expensive training programs and
staff advancement plans. Participatory management helps staff feel it is
their company - and it is. We set minimal guidelines ("Treat your guests as
family"), encourage pride, and let the staff work out the rest on their own.
The Farang in Sea Canoe are visible - especially the Caveman - but we are
only advisors. All staff are Thai, and we want to keep it that way. Sea
Canoe is a gift, not Farang exploitation. I am neither shareholder nor
employee, and any Farang in Sea Canoe can easily make more working for an
NGO. Our lofty ideas are jointly developed by Sea Canoe's owners and staff,
who share them with their guests, families and villages. Many contributed
ideas to this story.
Which Way Does The Wind Blow?
That's up to Thailand. We proudly help Thai Airways and the T.A.T. promote
the Kingdom as a "Quiet and Clean" Family destination. We hope our efforts
benefit all honest of Thailand's reputable hotels and tour operators. In
June, Sea Canoe opens in Vietnam's fledgling economy, where after two years
of groundwork, we already see some of our ideas at work. Next year, we
start-up in well-planned Palawan in the Philippines. As we expand to other
ASEAN countries, Thai Airways is in a unique position to benefit Thailand's
economy, awareness and image. Royal Orchid Holidays/Sea Canoe can develop
Thailand's image as an Nature Tourism exporter - but only if rhetoric is
balanced with domestic substance.
As our industry grows, a Nature Tourism marketing association can emerge to
develop more well-rounded promotions. Although we may drop our day trip to
protest the degradation of the Hongs, Sea Canoe still emphasizes Phang Nga
overnighters, and we've opened Samui and Krabi, with Satun and Mae Sot
coming on-line in November. Each operation works with local people committed
to Thailand's conservation and sustainability, emphasizing quality and
professionalism.
We hope these successes breed other Nature Tourism companies - each original
in its product development, working its own location. In environmental
economics, competition takes place in the market, not on pristine sites. For
example, market pressure - not Hong encroachment - encouraged us to develop
our low cost Kayak Camps.
Credentialing And Professional Standarts
Hand powered sea kayaking is the highest form of marine navigation. A
motorboat captain is licensed, but a Thai sea kayak guide isn't required to
have ANY Sea Kayaking, First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard or Environmental training.
Even so, several Sea Canoe guides are credentialed to International Standard
and are members of the American Canoe Assn. All guides receive a full month
of Sea Canoe's training before they even take guests - training from real
kayakers who love what they do instead of running just another tour.
Tidal sea caving is technical. Fortunately, the tides are predictable, but
it is scary that anybody can open a sea cave tour (or a SCUBA trip) - even
if they've never been on one. Until regulations are implemented, Siam is
inviting yet another needless tragedy. To help prevent that, we work with
the International Canoe Federation, American Canoe Assn. and National
Speleological Society (cave explorers) to develop a Thailand Canoe Assn. One
of the pleasant benefits will be the eventual Olympic participation of a
Thai National Kayak team. (This month, TG and Sea Canoe co-host the ACA
Communications Director and Paddler Magazine editor, Chuck Weis, to a three
week survey of Thailand to help develop that program.
By distributing kayaks, trip design and instruction services, we actually
help create our own Thai-owned ethical competition - away from the sites we
(or others) commercialized. Hopefully, these companies will adopt
international standards so Thailand becomes a safe and sustainable kayaking
destination. Finally, we are forming a Thai-directed foundation encouraging
a balanced, properly planned and sustainable Nature Tourism
industry that restores wildlife habitats and provides prosperity. We hope to
co-operate with Forestry and National Parks, Academics and the TAT. in
developing scientifically planned activities managed by responsible
operators under National Parks permits. Non-impacting Nature tourism is
acceptable in National Parks.
People deserve the opportunity to understand, enjoy - and become one with -
Nature. But there can be no economic trade-offs, especially large
infrastructure Five-star resorts and golf courses. Responsible improvements
can include hiking trails, planned campgrounds and wildlife observation
blinds.
Sorry, folks, no matter how rich you are, you shouldn't get to watch tigers
mate from a Five-Star hotel room. If you really want to understand Nature,
camp out and dirty your shoes - or get your seat wet in a canoe. Remember,
"Earth First". Without Nature, Homo Sapiens has no home - no matter how much
money we print. |
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