Recreational Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) Zoning and Use of Carrying Capacity (CC) for Lan Island’s Tourism Planning and Management

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to disseminate academic service findings with regard to a study of zoning and carrying capacity of tourism in Lan Island, Chonburi Province. This study adopts an integrated theoretical framework stemmed from Carrying Capacity (CC), Recreational Opportunity Spectrum (ROS), policies and plans (national to regional, provincial and local levels), land uses, and landscape theories. This study is using mixed method comprising of site survey and observation, questionnaire survey, in-depth and open-end interview, statistic method, remote sensing data and GIS. Policies and brainstorming meetings of stakeholders were conducted to conclude and to endorse zoning and carrying capacity. The research findings reveal that there are six appropriate ROS zonings of Lan Island: Primitive Use Zone, Semi-Primitive Use Zone with Vehicle, Semi-Primitive Use Zone without Vehicle, Roaded Natural, Rural Use Zone and Urban Zone. Benefits of this article are adaptations of ROS and CC in Thai context, limitations of ROS implementation, and opportunitiesin further researches such as a suitable ROS for Thai context and a new CC model responding to dynamic local factors.