Abstract:
The research is aimed to study the contexts, situations and processes of management as well as the impact of volunteer tourism on the local community in Chiang Mai in order to study the experience of visitors to the volunteer tourism on the local community in Chiang Mai, and to define a guideline of volunteer tourism management by local community, Chiang Mai province, with a scope of research area in Ban Mae Kampong community of Mae On district, Ban Mae Klang Luang community of Chom Thong district, Ban Mae Kon community of Chiang Dao district, and Ban Lao community of Mae Taeng district, as representatives of Chiang Mai. The research was conducted using qualitative research techniques combined with quantitative research. Data were collected from communities where volunteer tourism were practiced, Non-government Organizations (NGOs), foundations or tour companies organizing the volunteer tourism, and foreign volunteer tourists participating in the volunteer tourism program in local communities determined.
The guideline of volunteer tourism management by local community in Chiang Mai province should include 5 key elements: 1) Community organization; it should focus on participatory management based on 7M management principles and consider the sustainability of the community on economy, society, culture and environment, 2) Tourism resources and tour activities; there should be a creation of forms and procedures to propose varied tourist attractions and tour activities based on communitys approval, by focusing on the activities that can create awareness of environment and culture, 3) Tourism services; it should improve access to the communitys information of volunteer tourism through the Internet, develop facilities within the community with interpretive signage and emphasis on cleanliness and safety of accommodations, 4) Experience of volunteer tourists; the community should consider the experience management of volunteer tourist by 4.1) Before arriving to the community; providing a proper preparation and information continuously to volunteer tourists 4.2) During the volunteer tourism period; there should be a creation of participatory experience between volunteer tourists and local people, learning opportunities and impressions to volunteer tourists 4.3) After finishing the volunteer tourism; there should be a creation of impression that encourages participants to share their volunteer tourism experiences on social medias and the evaluation, gaining the feedback from participants for satisfaction acknowledgment and the further improvement. 5) Public relations; there should be a networking with other communities, tour companies, agencies and Non-government organizations (NGOs) in order to get the opportunity to introduce the communities and promote volunteer tourism in their communities. Furthermore the community should have their own websites.