MODEL DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM POTENTIAL THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to 1) study community participation in tourism potential development in the area of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and 2) create the proper model for tourism potential development through community participation in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. The quantitative research approach was used for collecting the data from 399 samples and the qualitative research approach was used for collecting the data from 9 informants from three groups consisting of administrators, in three levels, high, middle, and practitioner levels, involving in tourism development in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. The qualitative data were analyzed by using description, and the quantitative data were analyzed by using percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

The research results were as follows:

1. The community participation in tourism potential development in the area of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province was overall at a moderate level. When each aspect was considered, the aspect with the highest mean score was the participation in implementation ( =3.28, S.D. = 0.59), and the other three aspects with the lower means were the participation in evaluation (  = 3.20, S.D. = 0.58), the participation in making decisions ( = 3.10, S.D. = 0.61), and the participation in receiving benefits ( = 3.00, S.D. = 0.54), ranked in descending order of their means.

2. The proper model for tourism potential development through community participation in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province was “V-GAT Model” or the model with 4 elements: 1) Value of tourism destinations, 2) Good host, 3) Accommodation, and 4) Touring activity.