Forest Bathing Tourism: Definition, Values, and Benefits in the Context of Thailand

Abstract

The objectives of this qualitative research were to analyze the definition, value, and benefit of forest bathing in connection with tourism in Thai context. The data were collected firstly, by in-depth interviews with relevant experts. Representatives from government agencies, private sectors, and people with experience in forest bathing activities, totaling 12 people, were interviewed. Then a focus group, convened for a brainstorming meeting with representatives from government agencies, private sectors, and communities who had experience in forest bathing activities including people who were interested in forest bathing for tourism, totaling 53 people, participated in an online meeting. The data were analyzed and grouped in the process of the qualitative method, including synthetic, integrated, and created conclusions in terms of definition, value, and benefit of forest bathing tourism in the Thai context.  The research results revealed that 1) the term forest bathing tourism was defined as the main activity based on specific interests or integrated alternative tourism through the safety management process and facilitation for tourists experience, 2) the value of forest bathing was concerned with the economic, social, and environmental impacts linking to the tourism in many dimensions, such as creating a new model/concept of tourism business, creating new tourism route connected to other types of tourism to generate additional income for the community, and 3) the forest bathing benefited both at the individual level, such as the business owners, forest bathing facilitators, and forest bathing participation and while at  the community/society level, forest bathing promoted awareness and appreciation of the value of conservation and maintenance of community forest bathing activities.