DEVELOPING LOW CARBON TOURISM MEDIA ON KOH MAK, TRAT PROVINCE: A COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY APPROACH

Abstract

Introduction: Low-carbon tourism is a key strategy for reducing environmental impacts and ensuring sustainability in tourist destinations. This study focuses on Koh Mak, Trat Province, aiming to develop communication media that promote low-carbon tourism through community participation. Objectives: 1. To explore the tourism potential supporting low-carbon practices 2. To design participatory media strategies for sustainable tourism promotion. Methods: This qualitative research used participatory focus group discussions with local stakeholders. Data were analyzed using content analysis to identify key elements for media development. Results: The findings identified five key sites with strong low-carbon potential: Koh Mak, Koh Kradat, Koh Pee, Coco Cape Bridge, and Suan Yai Beach–Koh Kham. Each site holds unique features, such as being a tourism hub, coral conservation site, historical landmark, or center for    low-carbon water activities. The local community showed readiness to co-develop digital media, emphasizing short videos, QR codes, and bilingual (Thai-English) content. The media should balance beautiful destination imagery with educational low-carbon messages to avoid being overly didactic or boring. Conclusion: Effective low-carbon tourism media should be co-created with communities to ensure relevance, cultural fit, and environmental sensitivity. Digital media tools offer a resource-efficient way to raise tourist awareness and promote sustainable behaviors, helping preserve the beauty and ecological integrity of Koh Mak for the long term.