Thailand is one of the most tourist-friendly countries in Southeast Asia, and sees around six million tourists a year. That is about six times more than the entire ethnic minority population of the country! Thailand's ethnic minorities are concentrated mainly in the far north, in what are the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. The largest city there, Chiang Mai, has become very popular in the past ten years for "hill tribe trekking." Alone or in groups, there is no shortage of private guides, travel agents and tour companies who will take the visitor into traditional villages to visit their ethnic minority inhabitants. Not having done this type of trekking, We can only report second-hand, based on accounts of others who have. As you would expect, their experiences vary from extreme disappointment to high satisfaction. Clearly there is a spectrum of quality in the companies that operate this type of business, as well as a spectrum of expectations from tourists.

Our advice to visitors to the ethnic minorities in these villages is not to distribute candy to children, not to distribute medical supplies, unless they are trained in that field, and not to partake in recreational drug use. (Note that some of the tour guides in these areas have been reported to take opium in these villages.) Additionally, be aware that the villagers' traditions, beliefs and religious practices are generally very far removed from those of western cultures; it would be easy to inadvertently offend them.

While there is debate on the advantages and disadvantages brought to these people by tourism, We can report based on personal experience in Thailand that, with the right guide and the right attitude, the experience can be very rewarding for both the visitor and the villagers.

While many of the ethnic minorities in Thailand are better treated than in some of its neighboring countries, most still have little access to education, economic prosperity or political representation. Due to Thai policy, many are denied citizenship rights, making it harder for them to pursue anything but subsistence, village existence. In particular, many Karen, Shan, Palaung and Mon who are recent arrivals seeking asylum there have faced tremendous hardships in recent years.

We have sponsored an indigenous student in Thailand to become an English teacher in poor, rural areas of that country. We are currently sponsoring three other indigenous students in Thailand to graduate high school. Please consider making a donation so we may sponsor more indigenous students.

Books

Lewis, P., & Lewis, E., (1984) Peoples of The Golden Triangle: Six Tribes in Thailand. London: Thames & Hudson.