When social purpose meets travel, magic happens—and Local Alike's founder, Somsak “P’Pai” Boonkam, brought that magic to the stage at the “Empowering Social Enterprises in Tourism with a Solid Foundation” forum, held June 26–27, 2025, in Bangkok.
Hosted by the Office of Social Enterprise Promotion, the event gathered changemakers from across Thailand’s Central Region to strengthen the roots of social enterprise (SE) in the tourism sector. Representing Local Alike, P’Pai offered heartfelt reflections on building inclusive, sustainable, and community-powered travel experiences over the past decade.
“Meeting with tourism entrepreneurs who are interested in social enterprises in the Central Region—the fun is that you don't know what questions you'll encounter. You answer from experience. And sometimes, if it’s not exactly the right answer to the question, I’m sorry!”
— P’Pai Boonkam, Founder, Local Alike
With characteristic humility and humor, P’Pai emphasized the importance of adaptive leadership, listening to the needs of local communities, and embracing trial and error on the path to impact.
Local Alike continues to lead by example, connecting travelers to over 200 villages across Thailand while supporting community enterprises with fair income, training, and visibility.
As the tourism industry shifts toward purpose-driven travel, events like this—powered by the Office of Social Enterprise Promotion—are vital in building a strong, self-reliant ecosystem of changemakers.
For more on how Local Alike is reimagining travel, visit www.localalike.com.
