Dynamics of Conflict and Cooperation in Sustainable Tourism Development in Tribal Community of Northern Thailand

Abstract

     The study was conducted primarily to determine the management dynamics of conflict and cooperation in tourism development in tribal people. The objectives were to describe the processes involved in internal conflict and cooperation and its management, and determine and analyze the type of conflict and cooperation among members within the community. Ban Ruammit was selected as a sample of tribal community which has contributed to tourism development in the Northern Thailand. A total of 140 samples were purposively selected and served as respondents of this study. Data were gathered through individual and focused interviews, and secondary sources of information. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the data analyses. Result showed that conflict among members in the tourism activities was generally low, while cooperation was within the level of moderate. Type of conflict is more of an interpersonal type, whereas type of cooperation of local community was mostly of informal type, which was common in rural organizations. Factors such as main occupation, length of residence, length of group membership, gross annual family income, interdependency, social sensitivity, ascendant tendency, dependability and government assistance had relationships with level of conflict. While, interdependency, dependability, satisfaction with the existing sustainable tourism, cultural sensitivity, and sharing in benefits from natural resources were related to level of cooperation.