Tourism management guideline in New Normal for sustainable tourism of E-Tong village, Pilok subdistrict, Thong PhaPhum district, Kanchanaburi province.

Abstract

          This research aims to study the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts on tourism, the present situation, and the tourism management guideline in new normal for sustainable tourism of E-Tong Village, Pilok Subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province. This research used qualitative research method with in-depth interview using 15 key informants. The semi-structured interview was applied in this research by using the concept and theory of tourism impacts in 3 aspects, the present situation of E-Tong Village, and the Principles of Management (POLC) in 4 aspects of tourism management. The positive results on tourism impacts showed that the community’s income and main job came from tourism and their people lived like family with unity. Moreover, they still preserved their own local culture and the pollution in their community decreased. However, the negative results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic caused their income and employment went down. The relationship between people in community declined, the group activities was banned and the natural resources were restored. Currently, E-Tong Village is ready for tourism. But the preparation of community’s tourism adaptation to COVID-19 is found that some issues must be developed to support the tourists i.e. COVID-19 screening measures, tourist’s timeline checking and restriction on tourist numbers to sufficiently support and take care of tourists in safety. About tourism management guideline in new normal for sustainable tourism, it shows that it contains all elements but they are not clear and must be developed quickly. All sectors such as public sector, private sector, community sector and tourist sector, need to participate in and take responsibility for caring community. Regarding to planning, the community should increase a plan to support tourists in new normal era. For organizational management, guidelines to provide service for tourists should be set according to Ministry of Public Health’s Amazing Thailand Safety & Health Administration (SHA) and Department of Disease Control’s measures. As for the leader, village heads, village committees and members of Subdistrict Administrative Organization communicated policies to all sectors and applied measures to control and regulate all service areas involving tourism activities i.e. social distancing, service area zoning and restriction on tourist numbers. To control, it should establish a group for checking the service of each business if it operates in line with Ministry of Public Health’s measures. If not, it should have penalty for that.