Highland Sustainable Tourism Management: Phu Lom Lo Case Study and network area

Abstract

The outcomes of the study on Highland Sustainable Tourism
Management: Phu Lom Lo Case Study and network area can be
summarized as followed:
1. According to the tourist behaviour survey, the intentions of
tourists who visited Phu Lom Lo were to mainly relax and appreciate
the beauty of nature. The number of tourists is increasing and tourism
has become the trend on social media; therefore, more facilities are on
demand in that area. Since Phu Lom Lo is located in the upstream area
and far from the main tourist attractions, some concerned issues have
arisen including routes, transportations, the damages of Wild Himalayan
Cherry trees, toilets, and wastes. Being a tourist destination, the
community has transformed itself from the agriculture-based
community to tourism-based. This transformation has also affected its
people’s way of life as well as their occupations. They tend to focus
more on business relating to tourism such as; accommodations,
restaurants, and transportation services. These changes have caused
some conflicts among tourists, communities, and Phu Hin Rong Kla
National Park regarding the management for Phu Lom Lo and its
connected area.
2. The study on the scenario planning for tourism-based
community as well as the sustainable management of that in Phu Lom
Lo and its network area were to find the relationship between the
tourism-based community and its management in 3 dimensions
including: best-case scenario, worst-case scenario, and most-possible
scenario. The results of the study reveal that the key concept of
sustainable management for Phu Lom Lo and its network area is “Comanagement”
since it does not cause any conflicts in the community.
This concept enables its people and others from outside to share the
same values. As a social partnership, the locals and business owners
can contribute to the development and promotion of tourism of the
community. They will also share benefits and responsibility for the
community as well as recognize the capacity of their community rather
than focusing on the increasing tourism trends and profits.
The vision of the best-case scenario of the sustainable
management for community-based tourism in Phu Lom Lo and its
network area with the purpose to find maintainable solutions is that
the management must be operated upon local culture and knowledge
in order to increase and maintain their values by using the comanagement
approach. Additional four areas of development will also
include; tourist destinations, tourism and hospitality human resources,
tourism management, and social protection.
3. To construct body of knowledge, directions and strategic
policies, action plans, and project plans related to the management for
community-based tourism in Phu Lom Lo and its network area for
policy level towards operational level. The outcome body of
knowledge is the methodology used for analyzing factors affecting the
management for community-based tourism in Phu Lom Lo and its
network area. The methodology is applied to find the relationship by
matching variables.
1) Separation - an analysis on the relationship of
relevant factors. This was conducted by separating the factors from
the problems that happened during the management of Phu Lom Lo
tourism.
2) Overlapping - an analysis on the relationship of
relevant factors. This was to find the connection between existing
problems and the effects of the implementation of new strategy in
most-possible scenario
3) Combination - an analysis on the relationship of
relevant factors. This combined the factors related to existing
problems and the effects of the implementation of new strategy in
best-case scenario.
The vision states that the management must be operated
upon local culture and knowledge in order to increase and maintain
their values by using the co-management approach which includes; 4
directions, 12 strategies, 19 plans, and 77 projects.