ECOTOURISM
Sustainable Destinations Living Lab (SusDeLL)
A collaborative initiative between Breda University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) and Srinakharinwirot University’s SWUIC (Thailand), established to address sustainability challenges linked to urbanisation and tourism. The initiative focuses on improving human–nature relationships by combining research, education, and community engagement in both countries.
Our Collaboration
The Sustainable Destinations Living Lab (SusDeLL) is built upon a strong collaboration between
Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas), the Netherland and International College for Sustainability Studies (SWUIC), Srinakharin university, Thailand.
This transdisciplinary partnership integrates research, education, and stakeholder engagement, creating a platform where knowledge is co-created and translated into real-world impact. By bridging diverse perspectives, SusDeLL fosters innovation in sustainable tourism and human–nature relations across international contexts.
What We Aim to Achieve
SusDeLL aims to advance research on human–nature interactions, promote sustainability management, regenerative tourism, and develop sustainable destination management strategies. It emphasizes cross-cultural collaboration by connecting academic teams and building an international conservation network.
Advance research on
human–nature interactions
Promote sustainability management
Regenerative tourism
Develop sustainable destination management strategies
The program also prioritizes stakeholder and community engagement, involving governments, private sectors, NGOs, and local communities in co-creating sustainable solutions while empowering them to achieve conservation goals. In addition, it enhances educational opportunities by providing hands-on learning experiences for students, researchers, and practitioners.
The research focuses on three main areas:
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Human–nature relations
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Sustainable urban and nature-based tourism
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Comparative analysis between Thailand and the Netherlands
Key topics include:
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Biodiversity conservation
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Urban Ecology
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Human–wildlife conflict (such as human–elephant conflict)
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Cultural heritage preservation
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The socio-economic impacts of tourism
SusDeLL operates through various collaborative activities, including joint research projects, stakeholder workshops, training modules, student and faculty exchanges, and knowledge dissemination through conferences and publications. It also develops practical tools such as guidelines and community training programs to support sustainable tourism practices.
The initiative is led by Dr. Erdinç Çakmak and Asst. Prof. Dr. Chution Savini, who serve as co-directors and provide strategic leadership in research development, partnership building, and capacity building. Their role is to position both institutions as global leaders in research related to sustainability management and ensure strong cross-cultural collaboration.
Expected outcomes of SusDeLL include a deeper understanding of human–nature relationships in different cultural contexts, scalable solutions for sustainable tourism, stronger international partnerships, and increased capacity for students and professionals in sustainability practices.
Overall, SusDeLL serves as a dynamic platform that bridges academia and practice, fostering innovation and collaboration to support sustainable development and promote harmony between people and nature.
