Tourism Potential and Active Aging for Supporting Community-Based Tourism in Muang District, Prachinburi Province

Abstract

This research aimed to assess tourism potential and active aging to support community-based tourism in Muang District, Prachinburi Province and to establish development guidelines for tourism in the area. Data were collected from a population and sample group of 105 people, divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 85 randomly sampled senior citizens aged 60 and over, with 87 complete surveys ultimately collected. The second group consisted of 20 people involved in community tourism development. Data from this group were collected using interviews and focus group discussions. The assessment of tourism potential focused on four key dimensions: natural attractions and learning opportunities, local lifestyle and cultural uniqueness, accessibility and available facilities, and tourism-related limitations. The findings indicated that the community possesses several favorable attributes that support its development as a potential tourist destination. Specifically, the area is adjacent to Khao Yai National Park, has distinctive cultural practices such as traditional knife forging and banana trunk carving and is easily accessible via road connections to major attractions in the province. Furthermore, the study evaluated the capabilities of elderly residents in three dimensions: health status, community participation, and economic security, revealing that senior citizens could play a key role in supporting community-based tourism.The recommended development strategies included enhancing infrastructure, training elderly individuals in guiding and community management, and promoting active participation among both local residents and senior citizens to foster sustainable tourism development.