ENHANCING BAN BANG KOO COMMUNITY LEARING BASE AS A SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM COMMUNITY IN KUAN THONG SUB DISTRICT, KHANOM DISTRICT, NAKHON SI THAMMARAT PROVINCE

Abstract

            The objectives of this research were to 1) explore the tourism resources of the Ban Bang Koo community, Kuan Thong Sub-district, Khanom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, 2) develop a sustainable eco-tourism route by linking the Ban Bang Koo community learning base, and 3) evaluate sustainable eco-tourism routes of the community. This was a qualitative research methodology. The key informants were 30 volunteers selected voluntarily and 5 community tourism experts selected purposively. The research tools included the activity to study the potential of the Ban Bang Koo community learning base, natural resources record form, focus group activity, and issues of questions for experts’ opinions. Data were analyzed by using contents analysis. Results of the study showed that: 1) the tourism resources were community’s learning base divided into 6 areas, namely, Lamphu forest, Kai Kwai forest, Taboon forest, Kun Clam ground, fisherman's hut, and Mangrove forest. 2) Sustainable eco-tourism routes linking the Ban Bang Koo community learning base consisted of a half day excursion program using a concept of  “Long Rue Har Rak” and a community-based tourism route having six stations, namely wonders of the Lamphu root tree, Kai Kwai tree, wonders of Taboon tree, catch Kun Clam, Pi Mark ’s hut, and the Mangroves forest. 3) The experts' opinions agreed that the given activities were appropriate for sustainable community ecotourism.