Community-based Tourism and Community Economic Development: The Case of the Lower Northern Region, Thailand
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Abstract
Thailand has witnessed strategic transformation and development of tourism over the past three decades. In 1987, the campaign “Visiting Thailand Year”, which solely focused on raising revenue through mass tourism, was increasingly observed to impact the economy, society, and environment negatively. Thailand’s tourism paradigm thus shifted for more sustainable development. One of the concepts promoted following this direction is Community-based Tourism (CBT). For CBT, the community is central in creating its tourism goods and services: its natural resources, social, cultural, and environmental capitals. Besides generating value and revenue, several touring activities promoted their villages’ unique ways of life and culture. Data from four CBT communities of Na Ton Chan, Mai Rong Kla, Lablae, and Nam Khek, revealed successful yields. This profitable model prompted several CBT business groups to establish themselves in their community as economic stabilizers. However, CBT promotion requires each community to understand its essence by preserving identity and maintaining authenticity. CBT business groups must be careful not to overinvest in tour-related services such as homestays or transportation. They must also consider the destination’s unique cycle and trends to avoid overhead expectations and conflicts, which could negatively affect the community’s social capital.
Keywords: Community-based Tourism (CBT), Community Economic Development, Lower Northern Region
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