Thai AirAsia responded to the Thai government’s Civil-State program on community development by organizing its own program for sustainable community enhancement.

Acknowledging both state policy and the trend towards community travel among Thai and foreign tourists, Thai AirAsia organized “English on Air” to develop the tourism capabilities of local communities. In its third annual incarnation in 2016, the program focused on two key efforts, disseminating knowledge on the English language by working with instructors from Chulalongkorn University and having AirAsia staff relay that knowledge to community residents, and development of community tourism standards by improving Home Stay programs through work with social enterprise Local Alike, the International College for Sustainability Studies, Srinakharinwirot University and Rajaphat Chiang Rai University.

Communities selected by Thai AirAsia and its partners for improvement were chosen based on their tourism potential, factoring in their natural resources, leadership and local networks. The program was held in 2 areas in 2016, at Baan Loryo Chiang Rai and Baan Phromlok or Nakhon Si Thammrat.