Model of Sustainable Tourism Management to Strengthen the Communities in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand

Abstract

This is an observation and participative action research of Shan ethnic community-based tourism of Pambok, Tham Lod, and Naplajad villages, Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. The communities still lack skills in community-based tourism to meet international tourism standards. A survey, in-depth interview, and panel discussion of 60 stakeholders were used to collect data. This research aims to analyze the problems that obstruct the management of community-based tourism, develop communities' potential to strengthen community-based tourism, and integrate a community-based tourism network to create sustainability. The results showed that the problem conditions of the three communities include the internal environment, external environment, and external environmental operations. There are also issues and obstacles to managing the community-based tourism effectively. However, all three communities firmly maintain their Shan identity in the aspects of ways of life, belief, and cultures like worshiping guardian spirit ceremony, Shan ordination, and Shan attire, and tourism resources like Kho-Gu-Soh Bamboo Merit Bridge, Lod Cave, and organic farm-stay tourism of Na Plajaad. Stakeholders from government, private, and civil society sections in community-based tourism of three areas are integrated in order to create effective and standard community-based tourism network through the social media fan-page, community-based tourism map, travel itinerary, community-based tourism manual, and community-based tourism network committee. This creates the model community-based tourism villages in order to establish Mae Hong Son provincial strategy.