The Potential and Readiness for Establishing a Learning Institute of Community Based Tourism Southern Andaman Coast

Abstract

This research aimed to study potential and readiness of the related agencies in establishing a Community Tourism Learning Institute as well as expectation and perception of Community Tourism curriculum and Community Tourism Learning Institute for Southern Andaman Coast. The study also studies the curriculum desirable characteristic consistent with the need of learners, community, society, and the region. It was the mixed methods research both quantitative and qualitative. The population used in this research were 12 community’s tourism of Southern Andaman Coast and the community’s tourism related agencies of Southern Andaman Coast Community Tourism included 18 public, private agencies and academic institute and 100 related agencies of Southern Andaman Coast Community Tourism with the purposive sampling method. The research method used for data collection were non-participant observation, group discussion and questionnaires interview. The qualitative data analysis was based on Community Base Tourism concepts and theories. The short course ideas and the factors affecting determining observation potential and group discussion data for semantic linking of data that are visualized in holistic view and quantitative data analysis by using descriptive analysis included frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation to explain the general characteristics of the population and the level of expectations and perceptions of the community tourism curriculum and the establishment of community tourism learning institutions. The study found that the current potential and readiness of community tourism managed knowledge, expertise and skills as well as managerial process differently in different community area according to their ecology, tourism activities and community local wisdom which reflect the needs of Community Learning group establishment to  create community knowledge transfer group and the readiness of public, private and academic institute to support knowledge transference  as well as to  innovate, develop, empower and enhance community tourism service to be lifelong learning resources which align with the readiness of short courses learning institute development which consistent with the interview of the community tourism related agencies of  Southern Andaman Coast Community  found that majority of the interviewees were woman aged between 40 – 49  years old with bachelor degree education and work in private agencies also the man aged between 50 – 59 years old of bachelor degree and work in public agencies respectively.  The related agencies analysis result of expectation and perception of Community Tourism curriculum and the establishment of Community Learning Institute show that expectation in highest level were variety of courses and supporting standard and qualification followed by the establishment of a standardized learning institution, facilitation of all related agencies and community has developed from the Community Learning Institute accordingly.  The highest perception issues were the readiness of short courses followed by knowledge, expertise, communities skills, the community has been developed from the existing curriculum, community development potential from private sectors and the readiness of Community Tourism Learning Institute establishment accordingly which is the database for managing according to spatial context and target group to prepare for Community Tourism Learning Institute for Southern Andaman Coast establishment to operate efficiency and effectively.