.
Booking.com recently announced the top 10 finalists for its Booster Program focusing on sustainable tourism and one of the lucky participants is Local Alike, a Thai online travel platform that provides travel experiences around Southeast Asia.
The
aim of the programme is to identify, mentor and fund enterprising
start-ups from around the world that are seeking to have a positive
impact on the global tourism industry.
.
The 10 selected ventures
will participate in a three-week program in June in Amsterdam that
culminates with a chance to make a pitch to a panel of Booking.com and
industry experts for grants of up to Bt19 million from Booking.com.
.
“We are so impressed with the amazing diversity and quality of
applications that we received for the Booking.com Booster Program. The
incredible passion and genuinely innovative business concepts we saw
from start-ups from practically every corner of the globe was truly
inspiring,” says Gillian Tans, CEO of Booking.com.
.
“I can’t wait get to know these 10 start-ups better and see how we can
help them to accelerate their growth plans in order to bring their
vision for sustainable tourism to even more destinations around the
world.”
.
Nearly 700 start-ups from 102 countries applied to the programme,
Local Alike will be joined by other nine teams from the United States,
India, the Netherlands, Russia and Italy.
.
Local Alike exists as
two business entities: Local Alike Travel tour company operates
community-based tourism tours in Thailand and soon across Southeast Asia
and Local Alike website is a sustainable tourism online marketplace
where travellers around the world can find local and authentic
experiences.
.
“After four years in the business, we succeeded in
developing 70 communities in Thailand and this year we are expanding
into communities in Vietnam and India. What makes us unique is that we
establish long-term partnerships with local communities. We bring in
more income and educate them to optimise resources from tourism to
further develop their societies. We encourage them to fix community
issues from the root cause,” says Somsak Boonkam, founder of Local
Alike.
.
“What we are most excited about is to personally connect
with other like-minded fellows from the other nine teams, as well as the
team at Booking.com.”
.
