Driving Policies of Developing Grassroots Economy for Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Community Tourist Development in Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

          This research’s objectives were to study: 1) the effectiveness of the implementation of the grassroots economic development policy, 2) factors affecting the effectiveness of the grassroots economic development policy implementation, and 3) the guideline for the implementation of the grassroots economic development policy for sustainable development. It was a case study of community tourism development in Phitsanulok Province. The sample group for using the questionnaire consisted of 335 members of three tourism communities. The groups used in the interview were community leaders or community representatives, community board and 30 community members. Data were analyzed by percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Also, multiple regression analysis of data, and content analysis were used.

           The results showed that

1. The effectiveness of implementing the grassroots economic development policy was at a high level (=3.91), including the quality of life of people in the community (=3.95), community strength and management (=3.93), community relations with relevant agencies (=3.89) concepts and abilities of people (=3.86).
2. Factors affecting the effectiveness of implementing the grassroots economic development policy were at the statistical level of 0.05, consisting of 5 aspects; and had 92.60% of the effect, namely policy clarity, capacities of organizations implementing policies, resources, skills, incentives of policy practitioners, oversight, monitoring and evaluation.
3. Guidelines for driving the grassroots economic development policy should have, in order of importance, policy clarity, executives or key leaders’ support from all relevant sectors, the organizational capacity of policy implementation, supervision monitoring, and evaluation of policy practitioners' skills and incentives, and resources.