Resident’s Perspective on Developing Community-Based Tourism – A Qualitative Study of Muen Ngoen Kong Community, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Abstract

Community-Based Tourism (CBT) has been presented as an alternative to sustaining tourism development in developing countries. This tourism model offers local residents an opportunity to manage natural and cultural resources in order to promote the local economy and generate greater benefits. The objective of the study is to investigate the benefits and challenges of CBT as well as solutions to address identified shortcomings by studying Muen Ngoen Kong community in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In order to achieve these objectives, qualitative methods, field observations, and interviews were employed, and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of the field observation and interview data from local residents were reported, analyzed, and discussed. To practice CBT, the findings indicated that several challenges had been experienced in the implementation of CBT, including conflict over resource ownership and benefit leaking, financial issues, and problems of community participation. However, an abundance of tourism resources and security related concerns were identified as benefits of CBT in the area. In close collaboration with government agencies, product development was recommended to create a unique condition for CBT and address the shortcomings. It is crucial to involve local residents, empower the local community, conserve and cultivate cultural resources, and, finally, to maintain the overall sustainability of tourism resources.

Balancing Commercialization and Sustainability in Community-Based Tourism Practices - A Qualitative Study of Factors Affecting Elephant Habitat Communities in Northern Thailand

“…Community tourism (sometimes called community-based tourism: CBT), is an alternative form of tourism aiming at sustaining tourism development and provides local residents with an opportunity to manage and control natural and cultural resources (Lo and Janta, 2020) in order to promote the local economy. Studies have suggested CBT as a sustainable model for maximizing local socio-economic benefits of tourism and minimizing negative environmental impacts (Ruiz-Ballesteros and Hernandez-Ramirez, 2010).…”

A Meaning-Aware Cultural Tourism Intelligent Navigation System Based on Anticipatory Calculation

“…Intangible cultural heritage display in cultural tourism is an important channel to provide novelty and nostalgia. Common types of cultural tourism related to ICH mostly include digital tourism of legends and folklore (Vassiliadi et al, 2018) and community-based cultural ecotourism (Lo and Janta, 2020). Digital tourism carries out cultural experiences through digital narrative.…”

“…For example, through the digital narration of the volcanic eruption scene of Pompeii ancient city by MR technology, we can get a higher sense of experience (Vassiliadi et al, 2018). In terms of community tourism (Lo and Janta, 2020), it is important to empower communities, involve local residents, cultivate cultural resources, and ultimately maintain the sustainability of the overall tourism resources.…”

“…Schramm and Porter (2019) believe that communication is closely related to the formation of cultural communities. Without communication, there will be no community; conversely, without community, there will be no communication (Lo and Janta, 2020). Therefore, targeted information delivery and community formation can help enhance the motivation and behavior of tourists for active dissemination of information.…”

Attitudes of Local Population Towards the Impacts of Tourism Development: Evidence From Czechia

“…Without creating opportunities for residents to participate in the decisionmaking process around benefits generated from the tourism development, the decision is more complicated. According to this challenge, some community members are operating against stronger competitors and poor market conditions (Lo and Janta, 2020).…”