“SANUK” refers to a group of provinces located in the upper north-eastern part of Thailand, officially known as the “Upper North-Eastern Provincial Cluster 2”, consisting of Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan province. People of the three provinces share similar cultural heritage and local wisdom yet possess own unique livelihoods. They are the amazingly diverse ethnic groups settling on the bank of Mekong River, the descendants of Laos PDR and Vietnam ancestors.
SANUK owns unique livelihoods and craft wisdom especially textiles, basketry, crafts from banana leaf, music, and traditional culinary arts which have led to the emergence of ‘Creative Tourism’ in the region in which visitors can learn and obtain knowledge of community from direct experiences.
In responding to the government’s policy in promoting Thailand as an ‘All-year-round’ tourism destination, Ministry of Tourism & Sports is a key government body that drives ‘SANUK’ campaign. The group is known as Cities of 3 ‘Tham’ referring to Thammachart (Ecology), Dhamma (Buddhism Truth) and Wattanatham (Culture). The root of the word Tham or Dham comes from Sanskrit language meaning ‘Existence’.
SANUK provinces offer cutting-edge tourism experiences and demonstrate full potentials to harness ‘Sustainable Tourism’ through public participation and high-quality hospitality which will, in return, sustain the number of inbound tourist to SANUK cities. Tourism business not only generates incomes but it also fosters awareness of cultural conservation within communities and this practice will be sustainably passed through generations.
In addition, SANUK cities have a geographical advantage as they are connected to Laos PDR and Vietnam, the main tourism ports to ASEAN region can be one of the reasons that draw great tourists to the region.