Organizing sustainable tourism activities with the participation of communities, Takrob Sub-district, Chaiya District, Surat Thani Province

Abstract

This article aimed (1) to study the guidelines for organizing tourism activities that are suitable for sustainable tourism in the community, (2) to assess the potential for organizing tourism activities that are appropriate for sustainable tourism in the community of Tambon Takrop, Chaiya District, Surat Thani Province. This research is a combination of qualitative research and quantitative research. Qualitative research uses an action research format. The tools used to collect data include participatory type, which provides for collecting data from spatial surveys. Interviews will be conducted with key informants, who are Community leaders, citizens, community travel group members, village headmen, Local government organizations, government agencies, tourism operators, and community tourism stakeholders, to obtain study and analysis data. The sample size (Sampling frame) was determined using a purposive sampling method, a focus group of 30 people, and observation. Quantitative research uses questionnaires by random sampling from the sample population of 400 tourists who have traveled in the Takrop Subdistrict community. The statistical analysis includes frequency, percentage, hypothesis testing, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and F-test. The result of the study found that: 1) The area and the community have the potential to organize suitable tourism activities, specifically half-day trips. 2) The potential for organizing tourism activities to manage access to tourist attractions must be developed as much as possible. Because traveling into the area is quite complicated, no navigation signs exist. The road is rough, and the route is quite far—the level of tourists' opinions on managing sustainable tourism activities with community participation. The average opinion was at a pretty high level, and the average level of views on tourism with community participation. The average opinion was at a high level. Tourists with different personal factors have different views on organizing tourism activities.