Community Readiness for Ecotourism Management in a Royal Project Development Site, Northern Thailand

Community Readiness for Ecotourism Management in a Royal Project Development Site, Northern Thailand

Tanya Promburom, Piyaphan Klunklin, and Suwipa Champawalaya

Chiang Mai University

The objectives of the research were to investigate the need and readiness of the community in managing community-based ecotourism and to gather and assemble local knowledge to develop guidelines for community-based ecotourism management. The Hmong and Karen stakeholders from 14 villages of Mae Wang and Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai Province, within the responsible area of the Mae Hae Royal Project Development stations, were involved in this study. The participatory community-based ecotourism concept, qualitative research method, and participatory action research were conducted. The data were collected by observation, in-depth interview, focus group technique, and a formal questionnaire. The tourism program was developed and trialed with volunteer tourists to evaluate their satisfaction. The results were presented to and analyzed together with the stakeholders to develop community-based ecotourism management guidelines. It was found that the community was willing to have ecotourism and would like to promote their culture and tradition, and way of life including highland agricultural practice to tourists. They thought that ecotourism could generate supplemental income and cultural expression. However, the possible impact on the environment, culture, and society was concerned and should be carefully considered and well planned. Most of the stakeholders expressed that the communities were ready for ecotourism, and there should be representatives from the communities participating in the ecotourism management process. Some disagreed concerning communication problems, hospitality, facilities, and road condition. Local knowledge was gathered and integrated into an ecotourism program which was implemented with volunteer tourists. The evaluation of the pilot ecotourism program revealed that the tourists were satisfied with and interested in the tour program. They would like to discover folklore. In addition, the folklorists who guided and accompanied the tour could create value added to the program and a good impression for tourists. It was suggested that to develop such ecotourism, the tourism committees are established altogether with agreeable tasks and responsibilities.

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