Factors Driving Participation of the Community in Sustainability Community-Based Tourism Management: The Case Study of Thung Thasae Community, Thung Krabue Subdistrict, Trang Province, Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to examine factors affecting the participation of people in the community to drive community-based tourism sustainably and to provide guidelines for improving the participation of people in the community. Thung Thasae Community is chosen as the case study. Thung Thasae Community is in Thung Krabue Subdistrict, Trang Province, Thailand and provides a traditional folkway for people who live along the Palian river basin. However, community-based tourism became significant as a secondary economy to the community. However, there are a few people in the community who participate in driving tourism for the community. The referenced factors presented in this study include environmental factors, social factors, and economic factors.

        The results have been drawn based on a questionnaire of 200 people in the Thung Thasae Community. It found that the majority factor of people in the community participation was the economic factor. People in the community expected the community’s business improvement from taking part in community-based tourism. Similarly, social factors also were an important factor that dramatically influenced by friends and relatives. Therefore, to drive the participation of people in the community, information about the benefits received and garbage management plan from community-based tourism should be informed to the community people to create social influence pursuing people participating in the community-based tourism management.