Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to study participation in tourism management and guidelines for participatory community tourism management in Songprake Sub-district Phang-nga Province. Data was collected by questionnaire from 244 local people, 4 community leaders, 4 tourism operators, and 2 government officials that were related to tourism of Songprake Subdistrict. The data was analyzed for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and content analysis. Furthermore this research used focus group method to acquire the guideline for encouraging participatory community tourism management. The study showed that awareness of local people, attraction and accommodation of tourism components in Songprake Sub-district were ranked at high level (X bar = 3.45). Level of community participation in tourism management were found at low level regarding planning (X bar = 2.28) and evaluation (X bar = 2.99). However, community leaders and tourism operators are good involved. Needs for participation in tourism management of local people were found at moderate level regarding search for problems and causes in their community (X bar = 3.34), planning (X bar = 2.93), implementation (X bar = 3.29), receipt of benefits (X bar = 3.38), and evaluation (X bar = 2.99). The guidelines for participation of community tourism management in Songprake Sub-district could be achieved via all stakeholders regarding to search for problems and causes in their community as sharing ideas and discussion on community tourism, planning as create tourism plan in their community, implementation as encouraging local people to organize unique tourism activities, for receipt of benefits as holding a meeting on budget reporting and meeting and discussion among all stakeholder after projects for participation in evaluation under the development strategies of Phang-nga Province. To achieve sustainability of natural resources environment, economy and social life, this guideline should implement.