The Creation of Agricultural-Ecological Tourism Area by Community Network of 2 Sub-districts (Phawo-Dan Mae Lamao), Mae Sot District, Tak

Abstract

              The objectives of the research are to   1) study the community context and develop the changes of the community network    2) find          the potential of agriculture,ecology,culture by the community network      3) create an agro-ecological and cultural tourism area by the community network 4) find the management of agro-ecological tourism by commu       nity network that leads to charisma  "Contemporary Past"  of the area,    and 5) create tourism parties in 2 sub-districts. Network partners invol  ved in the development of CBT, formal and informal community leaders, seniors who know the local wisdom of the two areas. The tools used for data collection were structured, non-structured interviews, semi-formal questionnaires, and field recording by using camera and audio recorder. Data analysis used descriptive data analysis ;  the statistics used in data analysis were frequency, mean,percentage,standard deviation and their eloquence. The results of the research were as follows :   1) Community context and the development of change of the Pawo sub-district commu nity network , Mae La Mao Dan District used to be the same area in  the      past called Phawo Sub-district. It is an important outpost in Thailand in      the fight against Burma. Nowadays it is an economic outpost, and separ   ate the administrative districts into Mae Lamao Dan District. The condi tion of the area is flat. And the plateau that is located on Thanon Thong chai moun tain range ,   has cold weather all year round with sea fog   3 seasons ,  a forest area upstream.   Due  to  the   abundance  of the  area,      various  tribes  were emigrated to establish a foothold,   such as   Karen,  Lanna , Muser, Hmong  becoming a multicultural community.  After the  announcement  of the  national  park area  causes  the  area in   Phawo          district Mae Lam Mao Dan Sub-district is located in the three national parks : Taksin Maharat National Park  ,  Phacharoen National Park and Phawo Mountain National Park.        2)   The  results of the discovery of agricultural and eco cultural potential       by a network of 2 sub - districts showed that some communities began to return to traditional agriculture. Using  the concept of  agriculture theory according to  the principles of sufficiency economy, the theory of forest restoration development under the royal initiative, and turned to tourism as means of survival in living with the forest. And a multicultural community that attracts tourists to experience the different lifestyles and well-being of the seasons. 3) Results of the creation of agricultural - ecological tourism areas, this is due to the community participation process. By meeting the network of 2 sub-districts, it was found that the identity of the area was "4 ethnic paths, bound people with the forest". There are beliefs and cultures that depend on the forest and nature. The process of creating areas, routes and activities in tourism links the available resources with the knowledge.       And local way of the community that is unique, is a community-based tourism route activity. 4) Management of agro-ecocultural tourism by a network of communities leading to charm the "contemporary past" of the area arises from the community thinks, and analyzes the internal environment. And outside to find strengths,weaknesses,opportunities,      and constraints of the management of agricultural tourism, community network areas of the two sub-districts, and established a group management service committee. From the development of capacity, the community can manage tourism that leads to a charming way of preserving "The past combines the era" by adopting a way of life traditions, cultures, languages, local food, wisdom and uniqueness of dress are used as charm in tourism management. 5) The conditional factors involved in the process of building two tambon tourism partners: local people, public sector,private sector, educational institutions. And bringing the mass media to become a partner in the community development network. Using mixed media in public relations to tell stories and news in the community to outsiders. Forward and link local tourism together. This will increase tourism potential in the area to be more diverse. In which the two sub-districts of tourism (Phawo - Mae Lamao Dan) were formed from the support of the government and people, and the private sector to reinforce.