The Development of Policy Guidelines for Carrying Capacity Assessment of Community Attractions

Abstract

This research aims to assess carrying capacity model of community tourist attractions in the upper north region of Thailand and develop policy guidelines for carrying capacity assessment of community attractions. This research is carried out with mixed method and quantitative data were collected on assessing carrying capacity model of community tourist attractions in the upper north of Thailand, consisting of: (1) Ban Mae Kampong community; Chiang Mai Province (2) Bo Suak Community, Nan Province (3) Ban Tha Khanthong Chiang Rai Province and (4) Ban Rai Kong Khing Community Chiang Mai Province. Questionnaire was used as a tool to collect data from representative leaders of tourist attractions by the community and 20 representatives of community-based tourism groups using a specific sampling method, select only those who participated in community-based tourism management in the area of community-based tourism sites in the upper northern region and is a leading tool for assessing the carrying capacity of tourist attractions by the community and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. For the qualitative data collection, this was a study on the development of policy proposals for assessing the carrying capacity of tourist attractions by the community. Specific group conversation record was used as a toll to collect data from 20 experts, by using a specific method for selecting the contributors from the eligibility criteria, which are qualified personnel and possess adequate expertise in assessing the carrying capacity of tourist attraction by the community, as well as having experience or research results in the development of tourist attractions by the community. Thus, they can be classified into 3 groups as follows: Group 1, government officials from tourism agencies, group 2, Scholars in community-based tourism Planning and Management, and group 3, community-based tourism networks in the North. Furthermore, the data was analyzed using content analysis.

The results of the carrying capacity model assessment of community tourist attractions in the upper north region of Thailand was found that carrying capacity assessment model of community based tourism in the upper north region in all four types, such as; eco-community based tourism attraction, cultural and handicraft community based tourism attraction, agro-community based tourism attraction, and health community based tourism attraction were appropriate at the high level to apply in their area context. The results of policy development proposals for carrying capacity assessment of community attractions can be classified into five areas, such as; Policy Proposal (1) Develop a tracking system and assess the carrying capacity to community tourist attractions (2) Integrating social capital benefits and community culture (3) Conservation of resources and ecosystems in local communities (4) Proper safety and wellbeing management, and (5) Coordination of conservation networks and research from stakeholders. The findings from this research reflect that group members in the community-based tourism model in the upper north of Thailand can appropriately apply the carrying capacity assessment model to support community-based tourism in their area context and in accordance with their area context. Furthermore, tourism authorities and a network of community-based tourist boards, can implement the policy proposals for planning and set up measures to monitor the expected impacts.