Community Based Tourism Management for Sustainable Tourism Development Tourism Network by Sukhothai Community

Abstract

          This study has three objectives which are 1) To study the sustainable management capacity of community-based tourism, 2) To compare the sustainable management capacity of community-based tourism, and 3) To examine guidelines for managing the potential of sustainable community tourism. This study adopts a mixed-methods research design and utilizes the following data collection methods as follows; 1. Quantitative research involves collecting data through methods such as surveys, analyzing statistical data, distributing frequency distributions, finding percentage values, calculating mean and standard deviation, and inferential statistics. It includes conducting t-tests, F-tests, paired LSD tests, from a sample group of 400 individuals. 2.Qualitative research, the data collected from focus group discussions of 20 people, in-depth interviews samples of 10 people, and 15 people from relevant government agencies.
          The results of the research revealed that firstly, the level of management of sustainable community tourism potential is at a high level when considering each aspect, for example, the tourism attraction aspect has the highest average. Followed by the potential of community personnel, data management to serve tourists, creating awareness of value, community participation, tourism management, and safety, respectively. Secondly, in the comparison of the sustainable management capacity of community-based tourism, it was found that statistically significant differences were found in gender, age, education level, and occupation at a significance level of 0.05.
          Thirdly, the collected data illustrated that to ensure sustainable management guidelines for community-based tourism, the community participating in management played the most important role including a strong level of leadership of Community leaders. In practice, all sectors of the community-based tourism network must be encouraged and empowered. Communities must act as good hosts, fostering a sense of safety, and trustworthiness, maintaining uniqueness, and reputation , valuing and preserving heritage, and integrating sustainable tourism into community development to contribute to the sustainable conservation and advancement, towards a sustainable quality of life for the people within the community.