Let’s Celebrate! The success of the Moken Tourism Team on Koh Surin

As the season at Koh Surin National Park comes to an end, we are happy to say that the Moken Tourism Team has had an amazing season! Their capacity for hosting guests grows each year, showing impressive guiding skills that truly captured the hearts, minds and souls of the Andaman Discoveries guests. They supported and participated in the Koh Surin Moken Experience Program to be immersed in culture and see the beautiful island through the eyes of the Moken!

 

This year the women in the Moken village also became the teachers of a new activity added to the program, weaving bracelets out of Pandanus leaves as a souvenir. It is a fun way to sit down in the village and really soak up the atmosphere in a creative way.

Another special activity is riding on a traditional Moken “Kabang” houseboat that the Moken Tourism group has built for guests.  As we continue to build trust and relationships with the Moken Tourism Team and their families, it truly becomes a personal and meaningful experience when we bring guests to experience the Moken way of life.

This season the Moken Tourism Team received 25 groups and 120 guests from Andaman Discoveries. A donation to the Moken Community fund is collected for every group that participates in the program. This money is given directly back to the Moken community for them to use as seen fit. This year they have used the money to fix the engine on the “kabang” houseboat and also for medical assistance within the entire community.

 

This Koh Surin Moken Experience Program also brings awareness to our NAN foundation and the work that it is doing to assist the Moken community by providing scholarships to students that want to further their education and also in solidarity. To assist in these efforts and to support this amazing community, please visit our NAN Foundation website.

 

 

“Truly fantastic, the capacity building Andaman Discoveries is doing is admirable and my AD Guide’s interaction with the Moken made all the activities excellent”

“It was so delightful to be allowed to interact with our delightful Moken guide and his nephew. He was so generous with his time in the water snorkeling, he pointed at everything so we really saw the underwater world.”

“It was interesting for us to see and hear about the Moken way of life. We appreciate the work of Andaman Discoveries to support the Moken in preserving their way of life. Our Moken guide was wonderful and really knows how to take care of guests.”