A PATTERN OF RESPONSIBLE TOURISM MANAGEMENT IN SECOND TIER CITY, A CASE STUDY OF MAE HONG SON PROVINCE

Abstract

         The objectives of this research article were to study tourism operation in accordance with responsible tourism of involving organizations and tourism community and suggest how to manage responsible tourism to tourism involving organizations in second tier city, Mae Hong Son Province. It is qualitative research; the research methods consist of documents research relating to responsible tourism, field survey, focus group discussion, and in - depth interview. The key informants include government organizations relating to tourism, tourism business operators, and the representative from community - based tourism. The results found that the model of tourism operations of government organizations and tourism communities are consistent with responsible tourism approach – establishing the organization to protect resources, training for tourism staff, promoting employment through tourism, promoting local traditional and cultural events for tourism, using ingredients in the community cooking for tourist, and tourism community sharing the tourism work. Recommendation for responsible tourism management consists of work integration among government organizations, containing responsible tourism into organization’s plan, renovating the area and old building for tourism, managing environmental system for tourism, use the tourism taxes to develop environment, setting of regulations for tourist, register a vehicle for tourism, preparing security plan and life insurance for tourist, collecting resources data, controlling the number of tourist, preparing guide book for tourist, developing tourism infrastructures for all tourists, providing the underprivileged people in community to participate in tourism, managing safety and security in tourist attraction and tourism activity, standardizing tourism service, and promoting the small, medium - sized local tourism business operator to be competitive.