The Psychological Carrying Capacity of Tourism in Ban Namrad Water-Source Forest, Bann Tumneab Sub District, Suratthani Province

Abstract

This paper presents results of the research on tourist behavior of the Ban Namrad Water-source Forest Attraction together with the psychological carrying capacity of Ban Namrad Water-source Forest Attraction, Bann Tumneab sub district, Khiri Rat Nikhom District, Surat Thani Province. A total of 400 questionnaires were used with a sample of tourists. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The statistics used were frequency, percentage and mean. The study’s result of tourists experience and expectations found that most of them never visited Ban Namrad Water-source Forest Attraction. The main activity that tourists do is playing in the water and swimming while most of them aim to learn nature in the forest. A study on the psychological carrying capacity of Ban Namrad Water-source Forest Attraction found that the tourists saw others around 1-20 other people while they engaged in its activities with any number of tourists they want to have in that forest.  Too many people is not a problem for their activities. The tourist’s perception level to the number of tourists in Ban Namrad Water-source Forest Attraction has a moderate negative impact on the tourist experience. Average congestion level is moderate. The satisfaction of tourism regulations showed that the tourists had high satisfaction. Regarding the perception on safety, tourists feel highly secure, and the average of tourists perception on its environment is at a high level. When analyzing the factors affecting tourist psychology on a return visit and the satisfaction with the site, it was found that most of them were willing to return to visit Ban Namrad Water-source Forest Attraction again. The average visitor satisfaction was at a high level.