Abstract:
This research aimed 1) to study the current pattern of home stay management in
Thailand, 2) to study the factors of success and obstacles in the management of current Thai
homestay, 3) to study the pattern and process of managing innovative homestay, and 4) to try to
implement the patterns and the processesof managing the innovative homestay for tourism and to
draw conclusions. Qualitative research was conducted by using in-depth interview with 12
homestay innovation experts and the action research was then conducted by using solar energy
with Baan Rim Khlong Homestay. Electricity costs before and after solar-energy installation were
compared. Interviews on the satisfaction were given to 10 tourists.
In the study on current homestay management, the findings were as follows:1) There
was the business integration to manage tourism. 2) There was support from the government.
3) Villagers expected that homestay business was the major income. 4) Tourism brought money
for the community. 5) The business was aimed at sustainability. 6) The area allocation was done
by community leaders. 7) Tourism was developed according to tourists. 8) The target group was
not known. 9) Traditional community ways were affected by tourism. 10) The homestay was
assessed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. 11) Tourism was the main occupation in some
communities. The factors leading to success were as follows:1) community participation,
2) interesting activities, 3)homestay operators knowledge and skills, 4) good community leaders,
5) supportgiven by the government, private sectors and educational institutions, 6) friendly
relations with tourists, 7) standardized accounting system, 8) good public relations, 9) proposed
traditional community lifestyle, 10) learning from homestay models to develop their own
business, and 11) the provision of service trainings. Barriers were as follows:1 the lack of
integration of agencies 2) the lack of homestay operatorsknowledge, 3) focusing too much on profit, 4) high costs, 5) unfair benefit sharing, 6) the lack of confidence in changes, 7) leaders
with no transparency, 8) the lack of service standards 9) the lack of listening to opinions 10) the
changes of tourist attraction conditions, 11)bad publicity, and 12) the lack of facilities. The
patterns and processes for managing homestay innovations included the creation of the following
items: 1) product and service innovation, 2) participation 3) marketing innovation, 4) process
innovation 5) organization innovation, and 6) sustainability innovation. The resultsof using solar
energy to Baan Rim Khlong Home Stay for 30 days showed that the electricity cost could be
reduced by 88.23%, and tourists were satisfied with the solar-energy homestay.