Ecotourism Management of Khao Pu-Khao Ya National Park

Abstract

     The objectives of this research were to study ecotourism characteristics, ecotourism management guidelines as well as the result of ecotourism management of Khao Pu-Khao Ya National Park. The research was conducted by using both qualitative and quantitative research. In-depth interview was conducted among the national park officers, the tourists, and local people, whereas questionnaires were used for quantitative data collection. Descriptive statistics namely frequency, percentages, and standard deviation were presented for quantitative data and content analysis was used for qualitative data. It was found that the types of ecotourism in the National Park were both small group and popular ecotourism. Tourists could visit the National Park all year round. The National Park could accommodate 200 people per day to stay over night. Nevertheless, most of them stayed for one night for leisure. The popular leisure activity in the National Park was the cave tour. The ecotourism management of Khao Pu-Khao Ya National Park showed on one hand the success of managing the area to meet its objectives. For activities and learning aspect, the National Park set the program that was appropriate for the area of the Park that could create tourist satisfaction. On the other hand, people who lived around the area had low participation in the National Park ecotourism management. Moreover, the research found the problems and obstacles affecting the National Park's ecotourism management such as the park invasion, the forest encroachment, and stolen plant and wild animal species. The tourists, who had thrown garbage away in the prohibited area or stolen the National Park properties, were unaware of their effect on the National Park. Thus, it was necessary to improve the National Park ecotourism management to ensure better achievement in the future.