The Tourist Capacity and Valuing Recreation of Naka Cave, Phu Langka National Park

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to: 1) examine the capacity to accommodate tourists of Naka Cave, Phu Langka Natiponal Park, and 2) evaluate its recreational use value of Naka Cave, Phu Langka National Park. A mixed-methods approach was employed, using a concurrent parallel design. Data collection included in-depth interviews with 14 key informants to analyze the capacity to accommodate tourists and questionnaires distributed to 420 respondents to evaluate recreational use value using the Poisson Regression Model. Questionnaires were distributed and collected directly by the researcher. The findings revealed that: 1) The physical capacity to accommodate tourists for recreational activities was 118 people per round, with a total capacity of 944 people per day, divided into eight rounds. However, challenges were identified, including an insufficient number of bathrooms due to restrictions on permanent construction within the park area, and travel obstacles requiring visitors to walk and navigate stairs, natural paths, and rope-supported sections. 2) Most Thai tourists visited due to their belief in the Nagas. The recreational use value in 2022 was estimated at a consumer surplus of 5,758 THB per person per round, generating a total annual value of 1,346,220,400 THB from 233,800 Thai tourists. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the government: 1) implement policies to regulate and limit the number of tourists to a maximum of 944 per day, divided into eight rounds, with each group spending no more than 15 minutes in the area and clearly defined starting times for walking; 2) introduce additional fees in certain areas to support the restoration and conservation of natural resources. This should include enhancing accessibility for the elderly and promoting belief-based tourism routes to connect nearby areas.