"Catu Ethnic Minority Community Based Tourism Project” reached the halfway point of the four-year project in March 2014 and FIDR conducted a mid-term evaluation.

In this evaluation, together with the stakeholders we reviewed the activities of the project, produced results and future challenges.

The local residents are satisfied with the benefits from their tourism development.
“I’m pleased to see foreign visitors enjoying their visits to my village.”
“I feel proud to be a Catu when seeing the visitors being impressed by the culture of Catu.”
“The atmosphere of our community has been lightened up.”

The chairman of Ta Bing Commune People’s Committee, who is also the chief of the project management board, was pleased that the project has created a virtuous cycle.

He said, “thanks to increasing tourists, our community has more opportunities to maintain the traditional culture. It has promoted people’s income and their awareness to the growth of the community. In addition, it has strengthened solidarity, security and hygienic environment in the community.”

They also confirmed the necessity to carefully develop tourism in order to prevent any negative effect from outer regions.

Based on the results of the evaluation, FIDR continues to support further progress of tourism development for activating communities for next two years in cooperation with the Catu people and the local government.