A STUDY OF THE POTENTIAL OF AGRO-TOURISM MANAGEMENT AT BAN KHLONG ARANG, TUMBON BANGKENG, SA KAEO PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to study the potential of community-based agro-tourism management at Ban Khlong Arang. This research was mixed methods and data were collected from participants in focus group discussion, SWOT analysis, and from 50 key informants who were community leaders, farmers and stakeholders.

The results of the research were as follows: Ban Khlong Arang had community potential for agro-tourism management in terms of community potential, in terms of having potential tourist attractions. It was an agro-tourism attraction that interpolated the way of life of the people in the community. There were variety of tourism activities that could be linked with other local attractions in the future, including a clear division of the area for use in tourism community potential in the way of life of the community. There were tourist attractions integrated with agricultural way of life, such as farming according to the sufficiency economy philosophy. Tourist attractions had beautiful surrounding scenery such as Saluang, Sky walk and community forest path, etc. There was forest ordination ceremony in the community at forest area of Ban Khlong Arang and Nang Dong. Human resource potential of the community was that people in the community had unity. There was cooperation in various fields as result of having a strong and visionary leader who made Ban Khlong Arang a strong community leading to the participatory process of the effective management of agro-tourism.