Heritage Tourism in Chiang Mai: Measuring the Perceptions of Opportunities, Impacts and Challenges for the Local Community

Abstract

         Although the issues of heritage and heritage tourism are receiving increasing attention from government planners and scholars, few studies have examined their potential impacts and the relationship between community appearance and tourism, especially from an Asian perspective. Heritage tourism involves much more than generating income to the community. It also involves making destinations more appealing. It is the heritage and culture of the community that attract tourists. This research attempts to identify the impacts of tourism and heritage tourism as perceived by residents in a community, namely Chiang Mai. The information derived from this research will provide an understanding of residents’ attitudes and perceptions of opportunities relating to the development of the tourism industry in their locality for heritage planners, government planners and scholars for planning and managing local heritage in the future.