AGRO - TOURISM OF WANGSAIMABCHANG COMMUNITY, BANNA SUBDISTRICT, BANNA DISTRICT, NAKORNNAYOK PROVINCE

Abstract

                The objectives of this research article were to study the present activities condition of agro -tourism of Ban - Wangsaimabchang community.This is a qualitative research. The data were collected by the analysis of documents, observation form, and in-depth interview. The 15 key informants were community leaders, government officers, community people, and tourists. The results revealed that the community people in collaboration have developed agro - tourism in the community by organizing knowledge centers those followed the concept of sufficient economy. The centers created activities which aimed to draw more tourists to visit the community by ways of undisturbed nature, agricultural ways of life, culture and tradition. The community knowledge centers consisted of 4 centers;  1) foundation of knowledge on agro - tourism, 2) foundation of knowledge on rice milk cosmetics, 3) foundation of knowledge on the production of local food products, 4) foundation of knowledge on Home Stay group. The community people joined hands to create more jobs in order to increase opportunities for household income earnings. The community market place is used to sell local agricultural products, local food for the preservation of authentic typical Thai food, coffee houses, and Ban - Kwaisaonkon which displayed ancient way of rice farming by using buffalos instead of a tractor. The activities attracted many tourists but due to the pandemic Covid - 19 all activities were forced to be shut down. Recently the situation of the pandemic has been getting better; hence the community people are restoring the agro - tourism activities in order to attract the future eco-tourists.