Enhancement of Community-Based Tourism Potential with Thai Traditional Medicine Bases Linked to Wellness Route at Ranong Province

Abstract

Empowering new community tourism models with traditional medicine wisdom bases linked to wellness tourism routes in Ranong Province aims to 1) survey traditional medicine wisdom managed by communities along wellness tourism routes in Ranong Province; 2) develop new wellness tourism products in Ranong Province from traditional medicine wisdom managed by communities; and 3) assess the impact of developing new wellness tourism products in Ranong Province from traditional medicine wisdom managed by communities. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The population used was the tourism network in Ranong Province, including the government sector, private sector, the public sector that owns resources, tourism academics, health experts, and 10 simulated tourists purchasing local tours. The tools used were assessment forms, interview forms, and workshops. The research results found that 1) There were 3  categories of traditional medical wisdom existed: Thai-Chinese, Thai-Muslim, and Thai traditional medical wisdoms. Each group had different traditional medical wisdom. 2) The development of new wellness tourism products in Ranong Province from traditional medicine wisdom required community-based tourism management so that the community could learn and conserve the wisdom. Therefore,  the “Experiment rehabilitate wellness at Ranong” tourism route was developed. After testing the tourism route, it was discovered that tourists had a high level of acceptance, but only moderately accepted the appropriateness of the accommodations and the appropriateness of the health care.3) The impact assessment results for the new wellness tourism product in Ranong Province from traditional medicine wisdom with community-based tourism management were equal to 1:1.36.