COMMUNITY – BASED TOURISM MANAGEMENT UNDER THE CONCEPT OF COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF RAFTING AT BAN THAO WAT, LAO PO DAENG SUBDISTRICT, MUEANG DISTRICT, SAKHON NAKHON PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article seeks to (1) investigate the collaborative management of community tourism resources at Long Pha Ban Tha Wat, Sakon Nakhon Province, (2) analyze the challenges and impediments to collaborative management within the community at Long Pha Ban Tha Wat, Sakon Nakhon Province, and (3) propose guidelines and recommendations to improve collaborative management in the community at Long Pha Ban Tha Wat, Sakon Nakhon Province. The study employs qualitative research methods, collecting data through observation and in-depth interviews with 22 key informants using purposive sampling, and analyzes qualitative data through content analysis.

The study's findings indicate that 1) the Ban Tha Wat rafting tourism site, which is situated in Lao Por Daeng Subdistrict, Mueang Sakon Nakhon District, Sakon Nakhon Province, is managed collaboratively by the government and the local community. Joint activity planning, getting operating permissions, benefit sharing, and post-operation evaluation are the first steps in starting a rafting business. Strong rafting operators, a competent community committee, cooperation, and both mental and physical work from locals are all necessary for successful administration. This has resulted in a participatory tourism management model that involves all relevant stakeholders. 2) The problems and obstacles in management include regulatory and licensing issues related to operating the rafting business, insufficient promotion of tourism, budgetary constraints, service quality issues among raft operators, and concerns about the visual appeal of the landscape. Additionally, 3) recommendations include the following: the Lao Por Daeng Subdistrict Municipality should publicly disclose the regulations and requirements for operating raft tourism businesses; the municipality and raft operators should use technology and digital media to promote tourism; government agencies, including local administrative organizations, should set aside enough funds for rafting-related activities; rafting operators should set up service standards and hire more food vendors to guarantee prompt and adequate service, particularly during holidays; and improving the landscape to draw in more tourists.