Guidelines for the development of the participatory process for enhancing community tourism management : a case study of Sri Don Chai Community, Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai
Abstract:
The objectives of this research were 1) to study the participatory process for the community tourism management of Sri Don Chai community; 2) to study guidelines for enhancing the participatory process for community tourism management of Sri Don Chai community to adapt to future tourism; and 3) to propose the recommendations on the development of community tourism management of Sri Don Chai community. The framework used as a basis for the study of participatory process is the framework of Cohen and Uphoff (1980). According to quantitative method, the data gathered through the questionnaire were analyzed using percentages, mean and the standard deviation. In terms of qualitative method, the data were collected through official documents, fieldwork, in-depth interviews with the relevant informants and local government officials for acquiring their opinions. After that, the researcher conducted the deductive data analysis.
The findings were shown as follows: 1) Sri Don Chai community implemented the four-stage participatory process for the community tourism management based on the framework of Cohen and Uphoff (1980) consisting of (1) participation in decision-making, planning and determining the resources and the sources of the resources used; (2) participation in management, coordination, and assistance in the implementation of the activities; (3) participation in receiving direct benefits and indirect benefits; and (4) participation in evaluation, which was still a kind of observation or a group discussion to find an improvement. Then, comments were discussed in the meeting for the development and improvement. 2) According to the guidelines for enhancing the participatory process for community tourism management of Sri Don Chai community to adapt to future tourism, there should be the addition of services and activities based on the needs of tourists and also the expansion of the number of members and the improvement of their potentials adapting to the government policies and future tourism trends. 3) In terms of the guidelines for the long-term development of community tourism management of Sri Don Chai community, the community should cooperate closely with Sri Don Chai Sub-district Municipality, government agencies in the relevant area and local community to formulate a development strategy, Sri Don Chai Sub-district Tourism Management Community Network