The Potential and Tourism Carrying Capacity in Hot Spring of Lanna Tourism Cluster

Abstract

The research of the potential and tourism carrying capacity in hot spring   of Lanna tourism cluster aims were to: 1) study the tourism of hot spring in Lanna; 2) study the potential and patten of hot spring administration; 3) study the  hot spring tourism carrying capacity; 4) study and create tourism activities in Lanna and 5) guidelines for policy imprementation for hot spring sites in the Northern Thailand. The study used qualitative techniques. The taget group were, stakeholders in and off the sites by questionaires, in-depth interview and focus groups and survey observation.  There were 3 hot spring sites: 1) Doi Saket hot spring, Chiang Mai; 2) Pong Poo Fuang hot spring, Chiang Rai and 3) Muang Paeng, Mae Hong Sorn. The data were analysed by content analysys. Then they were all explain as description.

The results found that:

• The potential of hot spring tourism in the 3 areas were difference from their physical attractions, hot spring temperatures and total amount of hot water per day for body treatment. However, the potential of hot spring sites depend on their tourism factors. One of the site was found that Doi Saket had potentially high in tourism destination.


• The pattern of tourism administration had found that all 2 sites: Doi Saket and Pong Poo Fuang were success for tourism administration as they were in controlled of local community, except Muang Paeang. However, they all needed consultancy by organisers both inside and outside.


• The study of the carrying capacity of the 3 areas, were one of the site, Doi Saket was faced with tourism carrying capacity of 1,800 people perday while the hot spring can produce the water for 3,330 people. For the Pong Poo Fuang site was found that tourism carrying capacity of 30 people perday while the hot spring can produce the water for 2,457 people. At the Muang Paeng showed tourism carrying capacity of 60 people perday while the hot spring can produce the water for 39,554 people. This capacity depends on their tourism facilities for visitors.


• For the tourism activities related to hot spring tourism related to their community context. At Doisaket shows their ethinic tourism. The Pong Poo Fuang focuses on their herbal yard and tribal groups. Whereas, the Muang Paeng bring trekking and rafting to join the hotspring activities.


• The result of guidelines for hot spring tourism in Lanna had found that there were 4 components had to be focused on: 1) the management of the sites by local 2) the tourism activities should related to the use of hot spring resources and rethinking about biodiversity; 3) the zoning of land use had to be thinking about related resources and the effectiveness to local livelihoods in the site and 4) any construction for tourism in the site must think about landscaping, local culture and ethics.

Morerover, the research could be examples of other tourism sites in hot spring in terms of tourim management, health tourism activities, landscaping and also the planning for sustainable tourism.