Guidelines for Capacity Development and Community-Based Cultural Tourism Management in Tambon Ban Ruean, Pasang District, Lamphun Province

Abstract

This research aims to explore the potential and the relevant knowledge on local history and culture for developing a participatory community-based tourism organization and comprehensive management mechanisms under the implementation of Tambon Ban Ruean Tourism Committee.  Methodologically, it involved the compilation of information on local history and culture; development of a manual for community-based tourism management; organization of participatory learning activities for the community in such formats as brainstorming session, field study, workshop to provide knowledge on comprehensive tourism management, joint determination of tour routes, junior tour guide training for local youth, joint determination of tourism activities, and conducting trial tour program; assessment of the potential of various tourist attractions by involving both  local and external visitors in the trial tour program for their evaluation; submission of the evaluation report to Tambon Ban Ruean Tourism Committee for its planning decision on improvement of tourist attractions and local tourism management. Finally, the research results have been made available for publicity and for use as basis for establishing cooperative network among the local communities and relevant agencies and organizations in government and private sectors to foster the capacity development and the implementation of community-based tourism management.