By Augustine Anthuvan | Posted: 25 September 2010 0020 hrs
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CHIANG RAI - Come 2012, Thailand's Chiang Rai province will celebrate the 750th anniversary of its founding.
Plans are underway to transform the whole region into one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Thailand.
Located at the northern tip of Thailand, this part of Chiang Rai province used to be part of the Golden Triangle - an area where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand converge - once infamous for its poppy fields, drug smugglers and opium warlords.
Ethnic hill minorities used to grow opium because it was their singular means of survival.
Witchudakorn Wongprasit, project officer, Doi Tung Tourism, said: "This area, as you see behind me, was in the past barren mountain. It was used to grow opium. When this Royal-initiated project came along, it changed from opium to plants of economic value to the villagers. So they gained some income."
However, change did not come easy. The Mae Fah Luang Foundation - established by Princess Srinagarindra, the late Princess Mother of Thailand's King Bhumibhol - paved the way for Sustainable Alternative Livelihood Development, designed to help the people to help themselves.
Witchudakorn Wongprasit said: "(This project) has tried to help the villagers by understanding the roots of the problems, which are health issues, poverty, and illiteracy.
"So the project's purpose at the time was to alleviate these problems. When the villagers realized that this was a form of help, they then trusted them. Later, they became open-minded to this project."
After the passing away of the Princess Mother, the King took the foundation under his patronage and appointed his daughter, Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as its honorary chairperson.
Today, the people of Doi Tung have choices - to work on the project's macadamia economic forests or in coffee roasting plants.
Alternative development means giving farmers an economically viable, legal alternative.
They can also work in tourist destinations - like the award winning Mae Fah Luang garden.
The people of Thailand have made Doi Tung one of the country's top travel destinations.
Today, the Sustainable Alternative Livelihood Development model being practiced here has become internationally recognized, with its best practices being introduced in Myanmar, Aceh and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, back at the city centre, several projects are underway - including a 'historical park' that tells the story of Chiang Rai through wood carvings.
Viroon Kumpilo who heads Chiang Rai's Chamber of Commerce, speaking through translator Chittra Bunchandranon, explained: "Chiang Rai has very good artistes and we want them to come and promote their paintings.
"And one of the things that the Chamber of Commerce is doing is to create 700 tree sculptures which will tell the history of Chiang Rai and we want people to see the importance of the city."
When completed, the wooden pillars with their carvings will become yet another symbol, transforming Chiang Rai into a must-visit destination.
- CNA/al
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