Community-Based Tourism Management in Eastern Thailand

Abstract

The research is tudy aimed to propose 1) The success factors of community-based tourism management 2) the conditions for success of community-based tourism management 3) guideline for successful community-based tourism management, for 3 community areas.  This study used qualitative research consisting of in-depth interview. The key informants were conducted by purposive sampling, which consisted of community leader in local administration, senior community members, village philosophers, administrator of tourism, the tourism business owner, tourist service personnel, altogether 30 people in total. The research instruments were a semi-constructed interview form, content analysis and presentation of descriptive analysis. The research found that community-based tourism management of                        3 communities in the overall has achieved a high level. The indicators of success, there are 3 aspects which are (1) The tourists and incomes of each community increases every year, since the start of the initiatives (2) Community members have satisfied with tourism management by without feeling tourists have negative community impact as well as the tourists has satisfied on service of the community                (3) The community has tourism management standards in accordance with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC). There are 4 conditions that support community tourism management to succeed; (1) Citizen participation in community development, (2) The role of community leaders and committees (3) Local community networks to support (4) Supporting from community networks outside. The guidelines for successful community-based tourism management are; (1) Create a community identity and maintain locality. (2) Community should have organized a variety of tourism programs, and public relations of community tourism linked to nearby tourist attractions. (3) Local leaders and community committees have to support people participate in community activities. (4) Local leaders or tourism management committees should create networks within and outside community.