Royal Initiative Discovery

Edited from Tourism Authority of Thailand press release http://www.tatnews.org/tat_release/3300.asp

Nine unique projects initiated by His Majesty the King and members of the Thai Royal Family over many years offer special travel opportunities for visitors to the Kingdom during this year's celebrations marking the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King.

Going well beyond being merely tourist attractions, the projects have been selected because they make a significant contribution to poverty-alleviation, sustainable development, cultural preservation and job creation for the underprivileged.

They include everything from crop-substitution projects that have helped hilltribe farmers cut back on growing opium, to an elephant conservatory where foreign visitors can learn to become mahouts, and an arts and crafts training centre where dozens of people with disabilities are gainfully employed in creating masterpiece paintings.

Located in different parts of the Kingdom, the projects are in line with His Majesty’s "Sufficiency Economy" philosophy that poverty can best be eradicated through improved health, steady income through honest work, and knowledge and understanding through education. Last year, the United Nations recognized His Majesty’s life-long efforts with a first-of-its-kind award for outstanding dedication and achievements in human development.

Promoting such important projects are in line with the new tourism policy of the Royal Thai Government to focus more on quality tourism and move away from mass tourism. The policy is designed to focus more on yield and expenditure per visitor rather than headcount.

North by North East is pleased to assist our guests include visits to such quality sites as part of their overall Mekong and Southeast Asia travel plans.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL STATION ANGKHANG (CHIANG MAI)
A sprawling research centre straddling the northern-most provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Besides plant research and the creation of hybrids for local growth, the centre also houses an extraordinary collection of flora and fauna in several ingeniously constructed structures to best highlight their beauty, simplicity, and rarity, making optimum use of the hilly terrain to carve out distinctive displays.

MAE FAH LUANG ART AND CULTURAL PARK AND HALL OF OPIUM (CHIANG RAI)
Rai Mae Fah Luang in the city of Chiang Rai is an extraordinary museum which houses the largest and the best collection of artifacts depicting the history of the Lanna Kingdom. The grounds are as extensive as the museum is extraordinary. “Haw Kham” is a towering, unique teak structure housing ancient religious relics, next to a picturesque lake and surrounded by gardens and lawns. The Golden Triangle was once infamous as the world’s largest single opium producer. That distinction is but a distant fading memory.

DOI TUNG DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Royal Initiative Project of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother under supervision of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation (Chiang Rai). This project works to eradicate opium supply, drug use and rural poverty through Sustainable Alternative Development, such as education, training, humanitarian activities, environment conservation, agriculture, handicrafts, culture preservation, and ecotourism. Sixteen years ago, the forests were denuded and poppy was the main source of income. Today, poppy has been replaced by coffee, macadamia nuts, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Reforestation is so successful that, even in midsummer, the hills are cool from the shade of the tall trees.

THE THAI ELEPHANT CONSERVATION CENTRE (LAMPANG)
Roughly an hour’s drive from Chiangmai, this (500-hectare) sanctuary is the only elephant hospital in the world today, under Royal Patronage. Sick and maimed elephants are treated and cared for. Captured wild and discarded out-of-work domesticated elephants can be looked after. There are elephant shows, rides and even a program for visitors to live with and learn about elephants, lovingly called the “mahout training program”. A small cottage factory makes paper from elephant dung.

BAN KUT NA KHAM ARTS AND CRAFTS CENTRE (SAKON NAKHON)
One of a number of Royal Folk Art and Craft Training Centres set up in various regions of the Kingdom in line with His Majesty’s philosophy that poverty can be eradicated through improved health, steady income through honest work, and knowledge and understanding through education. There are 10 distinct branches of traditional Thai hand-made arts and crafts taught at the centres, each with distinctive local and native styles, patterns and methods.

BANGSAI ARTS AND CRAFTS CENTRE CENTRE (AYUTTHAYA)
Patronized by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, this Centre’s main objective is to encourage farmers to follow a secondary occupation, acquiring artistic skills, to earn extra income during difficult times. The Centre accepts only those who are unable to pay for training elsewhere, thus enabling the impoverished to establish their own cottage industries with the skills learned here. There is a bird sanctuary and a fish palace where conservation of the native wildlife is the main purpose.

COLLEGE IN THE COURT (NAKHON PATHOM)
College in the Court is a Royal Folk Art and Craft Training Centre set up eleven years ago to promote the ten basic disciplines of ancient Siamese native skills in carving, engraving, sculpting, modeling, drawing, lacquering, plastering, metal works, molding, and lathing. It is very close to Bangkok and is readily accessible. There are two buildings for displaying handiwork of past graduates and classes are open for viewing during certain times of day during school days.

WAT YANSANGWARARAM (CHONBURI)
This unique Buddhist temple is under Royal patronage, built entirely by foreigners to honour His Majesty the King. It includes a traditional Chinese temple, a Swiss chalet and a modern Thai temple. There is a hillside engraved with the image of Lord Buddha, a replica of Buddhagaya, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, and much more. It is a Buddhist learning centre and museum of Buddhist relics from far and wide unlike any other.

MRIGADAYAVAN PALACE (PHETCHABURI)
Built by King Rama VI as his Summer Palace by the seaside resort of Cha-Am, this sprawling wooden palace has been recently restored to its former glory and opened to the public as a museum. Relics of the period have been maintained in pristine condition and are displayed for public viewing.

For more information on Royal Initiative Discover please visit the official web site

http://www.thairoyalprojects.com/

for personalized travel arrangements in the Kingdom of Thailand and please contact:

North by North East Travel Services
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