Development of a Model Village for Health Tourism in the Doi Langka Area

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were: 1) to explore the condition and potential of a village model for health tourism in Doi Lanka area; and 2) to investigate the methods for developing a village model for health tourism in Doi Lanka area. The study employed mixed-methods approach. Research areas included Ban Mae Jam, Ban Pa Miang, and Ban Pang Ton Nun in Chae Son Subdistrict, Mueang Pan District, Lampang Province. With the collected data, the researchers employed content analysis and descriptive statistics before presenting the results. The data obtained from the interviews and focus group discussions were analyzed using inductive analysis, in which the data were systematically compiled and categorized before being interpreted and summarized. This procedure was done simultaneously with data collection.

From the study, the findings found that the following activities were carried out by the researcher in collaboration with community members, government agencies, and other entrepreneurs in order to develop Doi Lanka community as a village model for herbal health tourism: 1) Establishing a research center to learn about medicinal plants; 2) Creating a road and street within the community as a route for herbal health tourism that is convenient to travel and connects to tourist attractions, such as a bicycle route, a street food route, and so on. In this regard, the community assessed the potential of a village model for health tourism in the Doi Lanka area in the five areas listed below: 1) Attractions, 2) Amenities, 3) Accessibility, 4) Activities, and 5) Tourism Management, all of which are at a moderate level.