แนวทางการพัฒนาการท่องเที่ยวเชิงนิเวศ ในวนอุทยานน้ำตก ผาหลวง จังหวัดอุบลราชธานี

Abstract

Pha Luang Waterfall Forest Park is a forest park with diverse natural resources and beautiful therefore has been promoting eco-tourism from local departments to be an important tourist attraction of the area. However, the area around the forest park is mainly community, therefore tourism development should consider the effects that may occur on areas and communities. Study of Eco-tourism Development Guidelines in Pha Luang Waterfall Forest Park, Ubon Ratchathani Province aims to study 1) quality standards of the eco-tourism 2) attitudes of local communities in participation in eco-tourism development and 3) carrying capacity of the recreation area of Pha Luang Waterfall Forest Park to lead to suggestions for eco-tourism development that is consistent with the area and suitable for the context of the community. Data collecting from the use assessment form for quality standards for Eco-tourism, questionnaire for tourists from 88 samples and questionnaires for people in Ban Na Lern community from 258 samples together with focus group discussion with a group of 8 people representatives in the community and assess carrying capacity of the area in tourism Result of the study Pha Luang Waterfall Forest Park found that from evaluating the quality standards for Eco-tourism classified to very good standards. Due to the forest park having beautiful natural resources and high fertile and allowing villagers to use resources in the forest area to use for consumption and distribution for a small income according to the traditional way of life. There is a clear space usage determination by having a nature trail for tourists to visit and learn. There is security officers for tourists. There is a tourist service center providing information media and knowledge and there are officials who have expertise and knowledge about natural resources in the area. There are complete services and facilities but still don't have service shop and food shop. As for community participation in tourism, it was found a little of community participation, such as training of youth interested in being a guide, a meeting to exchange ideas on tourism development between the park and the community, but not continuously. The study of tourist satisfaction found that the tourists were the most satisfied with the knowledge and entertainment next is the service, followed by public relations, and least satisfied with the facilities. As for the attitudes of the people in Ban Na Lern community towards eco-tourism development in the area, it is found that most villagers have a good attitude towards tourists and tourism development. They want to increase the number of tourists because of the benefits in terms of income and nowadays tourists do not cause negative impacts to the community but may affect natural resources and cleanliness. The promotion of community participation is still not enough but they are ready and want to encourage community participation in the development of eco-tourism in the area. Therefore, eco-tourism development guidelines therefore should promote participation in tourism development together with knowledge and understanding of principles of eco-tourism and conservation of natural resources in order to develop the tourism area sustainably. The carrying capacity of Pha Luang Waterfall Forest Park area is determined by two factors, which are physical and facilities and social factor. The results show that the current tourism uses are still under the carrying capacity. However, if the number of tourists in the future increases, may have the use of area beyond the carrying capacity. The forest park should therefore be surveillance and have measures to prevent the effects or problems that may occur.