Royal development projects have originated from His Majesty's extensive travel throughout the country. Those royal visits, both official and private, to all regions of the Kingdom have made the Royal Family deeply aware of the people's problems and conditions.
Today, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and members of his family spend almost eight months out of the year in one or another of the royal residences which have been built outside of Bangkok. They are located in Chiang Mai in the North, Sakon Nakhon in the Northeast, Prachuap Khiri Khan in the Mid-South and Narathiwat in the Far South.
His Majesty has become not only the most traveled monarch in Thai history but also the best informed about a wide range of rural difficulties. His Majesty learns first-hand, from the people themselves, of the local conditions and problems. After having put them at their ease, he converses with the local inhabitants and learns from them the problems with which they are faced as they themselves perceived the situation. After consulting further with the officials concerned, His Majesty makes his own conclusions about the problems, including the causes and the possible methods to redress them. Upon his return to Bangkok, or sometimes even on the spot, he will share what he has learned with the members of the Government, requesting them to assist and give support to the people wherever feasible. Sometimes he has used his own funds in the early stages to help a project get off the ground. In 1988, he established the Chaipattana Foundation to fund and help in accelerating rural development projects that are beneficial to the people and the country as a whole. More information on Chaipattana Foundation and its projects can be found at http:// www.chaipat.or.th
His Majesty the King never simply issues a directive: the impetus comes from the local population, who must agree with the proposal and cooperate to see that it is successfully implemented.
The "royally-suggested" or "royal-initiated" projects have all been started in this way. They cover the whole spectrum of rural problems in Thailand, from the introduction of new crops to water conservation, from swamp drainage to the preservation of the national forests. In all, the aim has been sustainable development, serving not only immediate needs but also those of future generations by conserving the present environment and seeking to restore areas that have already suffered from misuse.