Readiness of Community - based Tourism Management: A Case Study of a Community Enterprise, Gaur Protection Volunteer Group, and Wang Mi Subdistrict Tourist Guides, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to report the status and patterns of community-based tourism and community readiness regarding tourism management through community enterprise, Guar Protection Volunteer group, and Wang Mi Sub district tourist guides. Data were collected using non-participant observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group interviews with key-informants. Questionnaire surveys were also collected from 118 households in the villages of Khlong Pla Kang and Sup Thawikhun. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data, and descriptive statistics (sample mean and standard deviation) were used to analyze the quantitative data.

Results shows that the communities have managed their tourism programs as the wildlife tourism which mainly utilizes wildlife in its natural habitats. The community readiness of tourism management, measured through 41 indicators, was moderate (= 1.92) and was categorized into five components. The community-based tourism management component (8 indicators) had the highest readiness (= 1.97). Environmental conservation and improvement (7 indicators) as well as a promotion of community and visitor engagement (7 indicators) had the second highest levels of the community readiness (= 1.93) and was followed by livelihood enhancement (5 indicators) and quality of services and safety (14 indicators), respectively ( = 1.89, = 1.87). Recommendations to promote community-based tourism management in these villages include 1) capacity building of tourist guides and communities, 2) enhancing community enterprise’s potential in tourism management, 3) encouraging community participation, 4) promoting eco-tourism activities connecting with nearby tourism destinations, and 5) promotion of tourism activities to the general public.