The North Andaman Coast

North Andaman is an ecologically and culturally unique area. It remains relatively undeveloped and many communities still survive by their traditional livelihoods of fishing and farming. Muslim, Buddhist and Moken villages live side by side in harmony. Coral reefs and tropical rainforests are just minutes away from each other. As an active participant in conservation and natural resource management along the North Andaman Coast, IUCN recognizes tourism's potential as an ecologically sustainable livelihood. Thus, the Landscapes and Livelihoods Strategy (LLS) aims to "support collaboration among community-based organizations to increase the effectiveness of nature based tourism for poverty reduction and conservation."
Over the past three years, since the tsunami, sustainable tourism development has been targeted as a recovery strategy from communities on the North Andaman Coast of Thailand by the private sector, NGOs, and through government policy. Concurrently, a number of communities have developed activities for tourists based on the area's cultural and natural heritage. Set against the challenges of the tsunami, and responsible tourism in general, many elements of community tourism are developing successfully including group: group management and new leaders; positive guest experience; links to conservation and social welfare; and, most importantly, consistent supplemental income.

The North Andaman Coast has great potential for tourism development. Located to north of Khao Sok, Khao Lak and Phuket, the scenic coastline with its beaches, forested islands, coral reefs can easily attract beach lovers, divers, sea kayakers, bird watchers and people who just want learn their about the life the local people, their customs and the environment they live in.