Jirawat “Mick” Viraponsawan

Managing Director, Kachonghills Tented Resort; President, YEC Trang (2026–2028)

Industry : Business

Fine Robusta growing alongside rubber trees is part of Jirawat “Mick” Viraponsawan’s vision for a different kind of tourism in Trang. Through Kachonghills Tented Resort, where he is Managing Director, the Trang native connects hospitality with agriculture, culture and local enterprise, treating the visitor economy as a means of creating value closer to home. His work draws naturally on a background in architecture at Thammasat University and a master’s degree in housing management from Chulalongkorn University. At Kachonghills, local farmers, craftspeople and producers feed into an experience encompassing indigenous rice, traditional weaving, performing arts and regional gastronomy.

Particularly significant is his work to revive the heritage of Khao Chong coffee. By promoting high-value Fine Robusta cultivated alongside rubber plantations, the initiative aims to improve farmers’ incomes, encourage more sustainable land use and strengthen Trang’s credentials as a food and coffee destination. Nature-based tourism and community-led experiences further connect agriculture, conservation and small businesses.

Mick’s ambitions also extend province-wide. As President of the Young Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce Trang for 2026-2028, he champions the potential of secondary cities to generate sustainable growth. His proposition is compellingly local: Trang’s future can be built from the assets, knowledge and identity it already possesses.