Global Alternative Tourism Network (GATN) Planning Workshop

Last Updated (Monday, 10 September 2012 12:30)

The Global Alternative Tourism Network Planning Workshop and Training of Trainers, hosted by APAY was held during 31 August – 2 September 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. This workshop was attended by the members of the GATN Task Force of APAY, including the Advisors from region of the Asia Pacific. The Members brainstormed for the planning of GATN Program for the next three years with a vision of transforming it to an independent network of Alternative Tourism.

On the first day, the sessions began with an introduction by Mr. Kohei Yamada, General Secretary of APAY, who explained the components of GATN Program as earmarked the Strategic Plan of APAY for the fiscal year 2012-2015. He underscored the need of creativity in our planning and also our sincerity to put our plans into actions. It was felt the YMCAs involvement in tourism and in the respective communities was quite substantial; therefore, community based tourism, an integral part of Alternative Tourism should be promoted through our YMCAs. Mr. Duncan Chowdhury, Executive Secretary for Programs continued with a presentation of APAY journey in Alternative Tourism for the last 4 years. Mr. Caesar D’Mello presented a paper on ‘Our Understanding of the State of Tourism” its impact, development and the myth of poverty alleviation. Mr. Duncan Chowdhury resumed with an overview of APAY future plan on Alternative Tourism for the next three years, based on the vision of GATN that includes skill building, marketing, publications, linkages, communications, building alliances and its autonomy. This was followed by group discussions and plenary presentation.

On the second day, Mr. Ranjan Solomon presented his thoughts, under the theme “Tourism as Human Encounters Towards A Common Humanity”. He stretched that Alternative Tourism could be an alternative to the mass tourism. The second presentation from Mr. Caesar D’Mello was about marketing strategies of GATN. Internal Marketing and External Marketing, this was followed by group discussions and plenary presentation.

On the third day the participants mainly concentrated on the finalization of the APAY program of GATN for the next three years, they took part in deliberations and finalized a time-framed action plan. During the year 2013, APAY will be focusing in establishing Alternative Tourism sites in the YMCAs in the region, in the year 2014 marketing of AT shall be emphasized and in the year 2015 efforts shall be made to transform the APAY Alternative Movement towards a greater autonomy, so that it continues to function independently for the promotion of Alternative Tourism in future.