Guidelines For Promoting Ecotourism: A Case Study of Nomination of Thung Yai – Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Uthai Thani Province

Abstract

The purposes of the research were 1) to study the guidelines for promoting ecotourism, Thung Yai Wildlife Sanctuary-Huai Kha Khaeng, Uthai Thani Province, 2) to investigate the opinions of Thai tourists towards ecotourism, and 3) to study the recommendations and ecotourism obstacles, Thung Yai Wildlife Sanctuary - Huai Kha Khaeng, Uthai Thani Province as a way to effectively promote tourism. The sample were 200 Thai tourists who traveling to Thung Yai Wildife Sanctuary Huay Kha Khaeng, Uthai Thani Province. The research instruments were the questionnaire and the group interview. The statistic used were mean, percentage and standard deviations, T-Score; f-distribution; statistical significance (sig); and one-way analysis of variance.

The results showed that the sample groups were 36-45 years old males and females which graduated in bachelor's degree level. Their monthly income was between 15,000 - 25,000 baht. Generally, most Thai tourists who visiting Thung Yai Wildlife Sanctuary- Huai Kha Khaeng, Uthai Thani Province were mostly satisfied with safety, travelling, food and beverage, staff services, accommodation, garbage disposal, toilets and souvenirs respectively. The Thai tourists with demographic characteristics such as gender, age, educational level and different monthly incomes showed consumer behaviors and satisfaction towards ecotourism statistically significant at the 0.05 level which was not different from each other. Therefore, their interview results, problems, obstacles and recommendations could be summarized as guidelines for promoting ecotourism at Thung Yai-Wildlife Sanctuary- Huai Kha Khaeng, Uthai Thani Province as follows;  1) to increase the option of exploring the ecosystem within the wildlife sanctuary, 2) to increase the area for camping, the area for garbage disposal, and toilets for accommodating the tourists. However, there must be focusing on causing of the least damage to the ecosystem in the wildlife sanctuary, 3) to adjust the landscape within the area where goods and services are sold in order to attract more tourists to visit the place, 4) to have a campaign for raising tourists awareness on the environment, and maintain clean, beautiful and sustainable environment in ecotourism sites, and 5) to develop tourism strategic plan and market communications to attract more tourists which creating jobs and careers for people in the community of Thung Yai Wildlife Sanctuary Huai Kha Khaeng, Uthai Thani Province.