THE ROLD OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT FO TOURIST ATTRACTIONS A CASE STUDY OF BAN LAEM BOR THOR, KOH YAI SUBDISTRICT, KRASAE SIN DISTRICT, SONGKHLA PROVINCE

Abstract

his research article aimed to 1) examine the roles of community members and local leaders in the participatory development of the Sacred Well in Ban Laem Bo Tho, Ko Yai Subdistrict, Krasae Sin District, Songkhla Province, as a community tourist attraction and 2) investigate the outcomes of public participation in the development of the community tourist attraction. This qualitative research employed documentary research and interviews with individuals involved in the development process, including leaders and members of the Sacred Well Conservation Club, government representatives, and community representatives. Data were analyzed using content analysis and presented descriptively. The findings revealed that 1) community members participated in deliberation and decision-making, planning, activity implementation, and monitoring and evaluation through club meetings and activities. Their participation included restoring and improving the site, providing facilities, and maintaining cleanliness. Monitoring and evaluation were mainly conducted through discussions at members' meetings. 2) The development activities contributed to the restoration and improvement of the Sacred Well and attracted support from external organizations. However, the development of the site as a community tourist attraction had not yet achieved its goal of attracting visitors from outside the community due to budgetary and operational constraints. Factors associated with the development included leadership, community cooperation, transparent resource management, and support from external networks.