The Roles of Local Government Organization and Local Community in Promoting Tourism Management for Elderly Tourists : A Case Study of Sridonchai Community, Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study were 1) to examine the participation of community and the role of local government organization in tourism management of Sridonchai Community; 2) to analyse and recommend ways for upgrading community tourism management of Sridonchai community aiming at elderly tourists; 3) to analyse and recommend ways for of local government organization in promoting community tourism management for elderly tourists.

Based on Cohen and Uphoff (1980)’s participation theory, this research employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative aspect deployed questionnaire with 260 households from 4 villages of Sridonchai community selected by using quota sampling. The data was calculated by percentage, mean and standard deviation. The qualitative data collection deployed various means including government document analysis, field survey, in-depth interview with key informants in the community who held direct roles in community tourism management, government officials, and staff from private organizations. Interview and participatory observation were also employed to obtain not only opinions but also community practices in providing services for the tourists. The data was anzlyed and deductively interpreted.

The results showed that Sridonchai community showed outstanding potential in community tourism management in regard to touristm sports, culture and tradition, people’s ways of life, food and dress culture. The community tourism management system was clearly defined and received support from local government organization, temple, and private sectors consistently even though still not sufficiently strong. The community location which is faraway from Chiang Rai becomes major disadvantage which in effect causes low number of tourists. The key findings according to the research objectives were as follows.

1. The community showed moderate participation in tourism management (= 2.7, S.D. = 0.86) including participation in decision-making process (= 2.9, S.D. = 0.87), operation process (= 2.9, S.D. = 0.85), and earning shared benefits process (= 2.96, S.D. = 0.81), but showed low participation in evaluation process (= 2.22, S.D. = 0.93). This is due to the fact that community did not implement this process concretely. As of Sridonchai Sub-district Municipality, its main roles in tourism management are first a supporter for the development of basic infrastructure of tourism sites and community, and second it acted as an advisor and coordinator of community and government network.

2. Ways for upgrading tourism management of Sridonchai community to health tourism management for the elderly tourists are that the community needs to add more services for elderly tourists by means of staff development, state-people health network development, basic infrastructure development for elderly tourists who will come to use services, accommodation and tourism spots in the community. Supports from government, education sector and public sectors from within and outside the community are also needed.

3. In order to support tourism management for elderly tourists, this research recommends that Sridonchai Sub-district Municipality should prepare local public policiesy by soliciting more community participation and should adjusting its operating procedures at least on 2 issues which are 1) modify local public policy on promoting tourism activity at “Community Level” to “Community Network for Health Tourism Management” by extending the successful practices of Sridonchai community to nearby communities. 2) Prepare community development strategy entitled “Sridonchai Community Network for Health Tourism  Management” which aiming for efficiency and effectiveness of community economy in aging society context together with developing wellness of people in the community which shall that inevitably promote self-reliance of the elderly.