The Community with Cultural and Eco-tourism Management : Valey Sub-district, Phop Phra District, TAK.

Abstract

        D Phop Phra District, TAK aims 1) to build network to develop cultural and eco tourism in Valey subdistrict 2) to study problem and demand of villagers to meet the development 3) to study uniqueness of area as base for tourism route development and 4) to develop potential of community to find suitable tourism activities to meet local way of life. As a result, this would impress coming visitors. This research applied community-based research (CBR) to empower local villagers to the development. Method of research Apply the process of community based research as a tool for studying and developing community potential which concentrates people’s centers. Enhancing powerful attitudes with process of involvement in order to create ecotourism traveling routes and cultures at Valey subdistrict, Poppra district, Tak province. Population and samples include community leaders, local kuru, community committee, native people and visitors. Method of selecting samples: specifying people who involved in particular potential and were interested in the tourism process.Statistics using in the study consist of frequency, average, percentage, standard deviation, content analysis and logical descriptions.

        The finding shown that "Eco and cultural tourism management with communities in Valey subdistrict, Pobpra district, Tak province" was driven by seminars and personal connections connecting network of people who share a same goal in community based tourism management. The network deployed Community based research (CBR) to participatary network which were 1 ) the internal ; head of community, scholars, community members, shops, 2) the externals; the government bodies (community development Pobpra district, Tak community college, Authority Tourism of Thailand), private sectors (tourism and hospitality business owners) and civil society (community-based researchers network). They cooperated effectively to find out tourism capital to be developed to attract tourists such as activities, eco and cultural routes in Valey subdistrict under the slogan "untammed Valey". Studying problems and demand of villagers on developing the community to be natural and cultural tourist attraction of Valey subdistrict shown that there were abundant tourism capital, but the villagers were neglected to share profit. The community lacked of understanding how to manage tourism by community. They blamed visitors for rubbish problem as well as conflict of interest on local resources. To solve the problem, redesigning activities with community participation and natural -friendly tourist routes needed to be done. This can lead to balancing the use of natural, cultural and societal resources with the way of life responsively. Also, the visitors experienced local story, knowledge and skill through well trained personnel of the community. Moreover, the training on product development to serve as unique souvenirs selling to visitors were required. Developing community potential as well as finding suitable tourism activities must be harmonized with the way of life to impress tourists. It found out that the community were changed in terms of working knowledge and gain confidence in promotion pattern and marketing channel. The experimental project proved the villagers to be alert to welcome visitors. Showing their elephant relationship to attract visitors was the core competency of the success. To extend visitors stay, there were many Thai- Mynmar border communities to show unique way of life.