Local Alike is redefining what travel means in Thailand by placing community, regeneration, and shared prosperity at its heart. Founded in 2011 by social entrepreneur Somsak “Pai” Boonkam, Local Alike was built on the belief that tourism should be a tool for local development rather than exploitation. What began as one project in a small village in Chiang Rai has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 200 communities using tourism to protect nature, preserve culture, and create meaningful livelihoods. From mangrove restoration in Krabi to forest treks and textile workshops in Chiang Mai, every journey is designed to ensure that tourism gives back more than it takes.
The Local Alike Origin Story
Pai’s journey began not in tourism but in engineering. After studying petrochemical engineering and earning a master’s in sustainable management in San Francisco, he returned home to Thailand determined to use business as a force for good. Visiting remote villages, he saw firsthand how communities that had welcomed tourists for years often received little benefit from it. Determined to change that, he spent nearly a year living in a small Chiang Rai village, co-designing Thailand’s first community-based tourism model that truly kept income in local hands. Within three years, the community grew from two homestays to 20 and built new infrastructure funded by tourism, proving that travel could be a tool for empowerment.
From that success, Local Alike was born. The enterprise now partners with over 200 villages across 60 provinces to co-create authentic tourism experiences such as forest walks with indigenous guides, organic farm stays, craft and weaving workshops, and cultural immersion programs led by locals. Each experience is developed through a participatory design process that ensures community ownership and long-term sustainability.
How Local Alike Is Making A Positive Impact
Every Local Alike journey is rooted in fair partnerships and environmental care. Around 70% of all tourism revenue remains in the community, supporting homestay operators, women artisans, and youth guides. A portion of each trip also contributes to their Community-Based Tourism Fund, which finances education programs, waste management systems, clean water infrastructure, and reforestation projects.
Local Alike’s “Travel With Care” program in Krabi integrates self-care, nature care, and culture care, giving travelers the chance to join mangrove planting, traditional cooking, and mindfulness experiences that link wellbeing with environmental regeneration. The company also pilots regenerative tourism initiatives in 10 communities across Thailand, reintroducing native plant species, protecting biodiversity, and documenting these outcomes in Thailand’s first white paper on regenerative tourism.
Through its offshoot initiatives Local Aroi, which uplifts rural food producers, and Local a Lot, which markets handmade crafts, the enterprise creates new income streams for small entrepreneurs and celebrates the diversity of Thai heritage. Local Alike also trains community members in hospitality, financial literacy, and marketing, nurturing local leadership and self-sufficiency.
Why the UnTours Foundation Invested in Local Alike
We invested in Local Alike because it is one of Southeast Asia’s most experienced and trusted models for community-based and regenerative tourism. The company has proven that economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship can thrive together when tourism is locally led. With over a decade of impact, a strong management team, and ambitious plans to expand regenerative travel across Thailand, Local Alike exemplifies the kind of innovation and integrity that this fund seeks to champion.
This investment is part of our partnership with Agoda and WWF Singapore through the Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund. Together, we are supporting tourism enterprises that strengthen biodiversity, improve livelihoods, and advance the shift toward nature-positive travel. Local Alike stands out for its holistic approach, combining sustainable operations with deep community partnerships and measurable social and environmental outcomes.
How You Can Support Local Alike
When you travel with Local Alike, you help build a more equitable and regenerative tourism future for Thailand. Book immersive community-based experiences that directly support local livelihoods, explore nature-positive tours that restore ecosystems, or partner on educational and corporate programs that combine learning with impact.
