MANAGEMENT OF AGRO-TOURISM IN RAYONG PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research were 1. to study general contexts of Agro- tourism in Rayong province, 2. to study the factors affecting the Agro-tourism in Rayong province, and 3. to propose the Buddhist method supporting Agro-tourism management in Rayong province.

Methodology was mixed method. The qualitative research was conducted by in-depth interviewing 21 keys informants and focus group discussion with 12 specialists who were the expert in Agro-tourism which selected by purposive samplings and analyzed by using analytic induction technique. The quantitative research was conducted from the samples of 400 respondents who are the Thai tourists by accidental sampling. The sample size was derived from the the Taro Yamane Table. The tool used for data collection was questionnaire at reliability level all of copy is 0.969. Statistics used to analyze data were frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

Findings were as followings:

1. The general contexts of Agro- tourism in Rayong province was suitable for relaxion with family. Mostly of Thai tourists were favorite the orchard. The suitable duration for Agro-tourism was overnight one night and most appropriate time on Saturday – Sunday. The important information sources for Agro-tourism was others online media.
2. The factors affecting the Agro-tourism in Rayong province by Marketing Mix Theory in high level. 1) Agro-tourism attraction, mostly tourists focus on the good security and had unique and reflected local culture, 2) price, mostly tourists focus on charged reasonable fee and worthy with benefits, 3) location most tourists focus on finding directions via GPS and had the clearly signs along the way, and 4) service, most tourists focus on good take care the tourists and quick service.
3. Buddhist methods to support the Agro-tourism management base on Sappurisa Dhamma for community life quality in Rayong province were 1) Dhammaññutā (Knowing the Cause), Agro-tourism attractions planned the Agro-tourism management and defined the role of each staffs were suitable, 2) Atthaññutā (Knowing the Purpose), Agro-tourism attractions knows that the happening of anything what effect good or bad with the tourists and led to plan for achieve the objectives of organization, 3) Attaññutā (Knowing yourself), Agro-tourism attraction are take action according with environment community, community culture, and suitable for the entrepreneur's knowledge and abilities which led to achieve the objectives of organization, 4) Mattaññutā (Knowing how to be temperate), Agro-tourism attractions take action appropriately overview base on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, 5) Kālaññutā (Knowing the Proper time), Agro-tourism attractions opened service on time and provided service with the tourist in appropriate circumstance, 6) Parisaññutā (Knowing the community), Agro-tourism attractions take action according with culture community and created the benefits to community, and 7) Puggalaññutā (Knowing the individual), Agro-tourism attractions practiced with any people in satisfied level and recruited the staffs for working suitable.