Thailand’s new ecotourism site in Ubon Ratchathani aims to set a sustainable example

Thailand has launched Kaeng I Khiao in Ubon Ratchathani, a natural ecotourism site designed to promote conservation, support local communities, and provide a low-impact experience within protected forest areas.

Thailand has opened Kaeng I Khiao, a new ecotourism site in Ubon Ratchathani province, in a move that officials say is designed to support sustainable travel while bringing fresh income to communities near the Buntharik-Yot Mon Wildlife Sanctuary. According to The Nation, the project has been launched with environmental safeguards, visitor services and safety measures in place from the outset.

The attraction centres on a broad rock terrace crossed by a stream and set within intact forest, offering visitors a landscape shaped by water, stone and woodland rather than built-up tourist infrastructure. That combination gives the site a clear appeal for travellers looking for quieter, nature-led experiences, while also positioning it as an outdoor classroom for learning about biodiversity and conservation.

Ubon Ratchathani already has a strong conservation footprint. The province contains several protected areas, including the Buntharik-Yot Mon Wildlife Sanctuary, which is described in regional reference material as covering about 350 square kilometres and supporting a wide range of plant and animal life. Other nearby nature attractions, such as Kaeng Tana National Park and Huay Sai Yai Waterfall, underline the area’s wider potential for forest and river-based tourism.

The opening also reflects a broader policy trend in Thailand, where sustainable and community-based tourism has been promoted as a way to spread visitor spending beyond the country’s best-known destinations. Academic studies on tourism development in Ubon Ratchathani have argued for models that balance environmental protection with local participation, suggesting that carefully managed natural attractions can support both conservation and livelihoods.

At Kaeng I Khiao, that balance will depend on how well the rules are enforced. Officials have introduced first-aid support, visitor facilities and strict waste controls, including a requirement that visitors carry out their own rubbish. If those measures hold, the site could become a model for low-impact tourism in Thailand’s forest provinces, rather than simply another scenic stop.