Naruemon Danpongsuwan. Tourism carrying capacity assessment using an application of recreation opportunity spectrum in classifying the tourism area :. Master's Degree(Sustainable Environment Planning ). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2008.
Tourism carrying capacity assessment using an application of recreation opportunity spectrum in classifying the tourism area :
Abstract:
This main purpose of this study was to apply the Recreation Opportunity
Spectrum (ROS) and to assess the Carrying Capacity (CC) for Floating Market
Tourism Management, Thailand. The study site was the Amphawa Floating Market
cluster (Amphawan Temple, Amphawa Community Information Center, Way of Life
and Vernacular Architecture trail, and Amphawa Market). Stakeholders evaluated the
tourism cluster by evaluated form with the ROS methodology. According to the CC,
the indicated factors were the physical, facilities, ecological, and social. General ROS
methodology was divided into 5 groups: Primitive area; Semi-primitive area class I;
Semi-primitive area class II; Developed natural area and Rural area.
The research findings showed that all 4 tourism areas were ranked in the
Semi-primitive area class II. The advantages of recreation activities were ranked at a
medium level. Concerning the tourism carrying capacity assessment, the findings
showed factors that met the carrying capacity standard were the capacity of the
tourism activities areas, waste management, water quality, congestion and satisfaction
of stakeholders, and tourists satisfaction. Conversely, factors over the carrying
capacity standard were the capacity of the parking areas, number of restrooms, water
consumption, and tourist congestion.
As a result, the application of ROS and CC from this research could apply as a
framework to set the limitation of recreation areas and provide recreation area
development guidelines. The tourism carrying capacity assessment of the study area
ranked at a medium level; however, there were some factors that needed immediate
improvement to avoid the possible impact of excess carrying capacity.