Tourist Homestay Management by Bang Nam Pheung Community Enterprise

Abstract

Community enterprises management in homestays are currently increasing as per the sustainable
tourism trend. However, only a few of such enterprises are certified by the “Homestay Thailand Standard” and have won an “Outstanding Community Enterprise Award”, regarded to the total number of homestays. This research’s purpose is to study the physical condition, concepts and management of Bang Nam Pheung
Community Enterprise, by gathering information through field surveys and interviews with the homestay’s
chairperson as well as the owners of all 11 residences.
The study found that 1.) Most residences are traditional houses of the country’s central region. They
are two-story houses up lifted above the ground, with the second floor for bedrooms, the first floor for living
area and storage, and 300-61 square meters of floor area. Another type of residence includes one-story
wooden houses situated on the riverside with 139-90 square meters. As for homestay management, most of
the owners modify the living space instead of renovated the house to support tourism. The modification
involves 3 type 1. Using the same bedrooms, which is the most common, followed by 2. Using the living area
of house and 3. Using both the bedrooms and living area. 2.) The management strategy involves 3 parts. 1.
Residence the owners determine the space allocated to tourists, clean the residences and welcome tourists
who will gather at the homestay’s reception area on the first day of their stay. 2. Corporate and service the
homestay will arrange regular meetings, regulations and policies, as well as arrange meetings after each stay. Residence allocation is circulated regularly. The staff cooks for the guests and buy ingredients from the
community. Meanwhile, the homestay cooperates with the Sub district Administration Organization regarding security shift schedule and pamphlets, for which the homestay will share the income from the tourists. The
public relations mostly rely on the guest’s mouth of mouth. 3.) Tourism resources their responsibility includesorganizing activities using local resources and local wisdom, such as Baan Luk Prakob’s Herbal Compress,and bicycle and boat sightseeing organized of tourism network.
According to the study, Bang Nam Pheung Community Enterprise’s management gives importance
to every parties by focusing on generating and circulating income through local resources, local wisdom and
way of life. The process of organizing activities and tourist attractions into a network, which will lead to the
community’s participation and conservation of nature, one of the most important resources, to further pursue sustainable development.