Kulachat Kena

FOUNDER, FARMKITS

Industry :

When Khon Kaen-born Kulachat returned to his roots, he realised that to ensure a sustainable future for his family and community, he needed to establish a community tourism destination from the ground up. Against the dramatic backdrop of a mountain in Phuphaman district, known for its daily flight of bats, he opened Farmkits as a rustic café. The venue also provided an open co-working space where community youngsters could come to learn new skills including organic farming and computer technology—his area of expertise. Recognising the need for a more comprehensive travel information platform to attract visitors to this remote area, Kulachat, drawing on his profession as a User Interface Designer, created phuphaman.com. Launched in 2019, the website offers information on travel routes, accommodation, restaurants and cafes, tourist sites, as well as activities and news updates in the area, supplemented by strategically placed QR codes at various locations to assist visitors on their journey. To encourage the community to recognise their own tourism potential to enhance their livelihood, this digital nomad launched the Tech Thaiban website as an open-source platform for technology empowerment within the community.