Approaches to Creating Economic Opportunities and Alleviating Poverty Through Social Capital: A Case Study of Mueang Mai Subdistrict, Chae Hom District, Lampang Province

Abstract

This study aimed to examine social capital as a mechanism underlying the process of promoting tourism through the utilization of social capital in Muang Mai Sub-district, Chae Hom District, Lampang Province, and to propose an approach for leveraging social capital to create economic opportunities and alleviate community-level poverty.
A qualitative research design was employed, with data collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory action research. The target groups comprised community leaders, community enterprises, targeted low-income households within the national poverty database, and local governmental agencies, totaling 83 participants. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. The findings reveal that Muang Mai Sub-district effectively mobilizes social capital across multiple dimensions, including family relationships, community networks, belief systems and cultural practices, trusted community leadership, as well as natural and geological capital that can be utilized to develop integrated forms of tourism encompassing cultural, geological, and ecological dimensions. In particular, the “Muang Mai Ammonite Run” initiative showcases nature- and geology-based tourism routes alongside local community products, thereby directly generating additional income for the community. Moreover, this initiative has contributed to the establishment of a community development fund, reflecting the strategic use of social capital as a key mechanism for strengthening the local economy and serving as an effective instrument for poverty alleviation at the community level.