A Study of the Community Needs and Readiness for the Eco-Tourism Attraction Development in Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze problems and difficulties in managing an eco-tourism, and to survey needs and readiness of communities for eco-
tourism attraction development in Maha Sarakham province, including
Kosumpi National Park, Doonlampan Forest (No Hunting Area),
Khongkudwai Fish Sanctuary, and Walairukhawej Herb Garden. The
sample group consisted of 260 of the chief executives of governmental sectors, entrepreneurs, communities, and tourists in Maha Sarakham province. The instruments of the study consisted of an observation, a depth interview, and a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by using mean, standard deviation, and the content analysis technique. The findings revealed as the following:
1.The eco-tourism management in Maha Sarakham province in
general had 5 problems: 1) The eco-tourism management was under the responsibility of the government offices, including Kosumpi National Park, Doonlampan Forest (No Hunting Area), and Walairukhawej Herb Garden, pursuing sustainability and tourism management purposes. In contrast, communities were supposed to participate in conservation, natural resources
management, and giving information and services to tourists. In fact, the government offices worked separately from community participation, except Khongkudwai Fish Sanctuary, a community-based management.
2) The eco-tourism potentials were inefficient: the continually destroyed ecosystems included the imperfect ecosystem, some natural disasters, human invasions and natural resource destroyed; and incapability of a sustainable development and reservation. 3) The organization structures of the government offices were not concerned directly with the eco-tourism, in terms of the utility management of the ecotourism areas, basic services providing, and eco-tourism activities, except Walairukhawej Herb Garden for research doing ecotourism management purposes 4) The ecotourism knowledge and its awareness had problems of communication, a body of knowledge, local tourist guides, and campaign activities. 5) The community participations in ecotourism activities with other sectors had the least, mostly in local cultural activities.2. Communities needed the eco-tourist attraction development in Maha Sarakham province in general and sub-scales were at the highest level in the utility management of ecotourism area, the ecotourism potentials, the
community participation in ecotourism activities, and knowledge and awareness establishment. It was found that Waliarukhawej Herb Garden, Doonlampan Forest (No Hunting Area), Kosumpi National Park, and Khongkudwai Fish Sanctuary gained the highest needs respectively. The tourists needed the eco-tourist attraction development in general and sub-scales were at the highest level in the utility management of eco-tourism areas, the eco-tourism potentials, and knowledge and awareness establishment, at Khongkudwai Fish Sanctuary, Waliarukhawej Herb Garden, and Kosumpi National Park respectively.