DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURE TRAIL AND BROCHURE FOR PROMOTING ECOTOURISM AT BAN MAE KUED LUANG COMMUNITY FOREST, MAE SOT DISTRICT, TAK PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this study were 1) to survey the community’s opinions toward the development of nature trails, 2) to survey the area’s characteristics of the community forest as a guideline for the development of nature trails and brochures, and 3) to develop a nature trail and related brochure at Ban Mae Kued Luang Community Forest, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. The research included both qualitative and quantitative data, and the data were analyzed together with the use of descriptive statistics. The research was carried out by collecting opinions on the development of a nature trail using focus group discussions with 15 key informants, and using a community forest survey with representatives of the community forest committee. Then, the group discussion data and community forest surveys were analyzed. The results contributed to the development of nature trails and a brochure. The nature trails were developed from previous trails in the community forest. These trails were characterized by a loop form with two trails comprising 10 stations. Each station had academic content, which described the environment and important ecological knowledge. From the evaluation of the brochure content by three experts, the suitability of the content overall was ranked at a high level (= 3.96), and the evaluation of the suitability of the brochures in terms of the design was ranked at the highest level (= 4.81). The overall satisfaction with the brochures expressed by 48 secondary school students was ranked at a high level (= 2.48). Therefore, the nature trails and the brochure could be useful tools for promoting ecotourism in the community. Furthermore, these could help tourists visiting the community forest to learn more about the importance and value of forest resources and the community’s way of life.