An Developing Alternative Tourism Potentials: A Path Following the National Co developers on the Phu Phan Panges

Abstract

Problem statement: The development of alternative tourism was necessary. The objectives of this research were to study: (1) the history of group collaborating in Thai National Development on Pu-pan Mountain Range, (2) the potentiality of tourism according to the keeping on track of the group collaborating in Thai National Development on Pu-pan Mountain Range and (3) the appropriate management in alternative tourism. Approach: The research area included Sakonnakon and Kalasin Provinces. The samples as informants were selected by Purposive Sampling, for 168 persons. The instrument using for collecting data consisted of the Interview Form, the Observation Form, Focus Group Discussion and Participatory Workshop. Data were classified into groups, investigated by using Triangulation and analyzed according to specified goal. The findings were presented in descriptive analysis. Results: (1) the historical background, Thailand was governed by soldier authoritarian system in 1964 in the age of Marshal Tanom Kittikajon who made a revolution. As a result, people were under political pressure with maltreating and suppressing people who loved democracy very much by accusing that they were communist party of Thailand. Finally, they collaborated in fighting with communist party for helping the suffered people. Then, they were suppressed by the government. There was fighting until the citizen had death and loss. This group stopped, (2) the problem situation in managing the recent tour origin, found that it was a lack of entrepreneurs leading the local tour, who had knowledge and competency in local culture. The tour places were not developed. There was a lack of tour guides in each place, in explaining for the tourists, public relation and facilities, (3) the appropriate management of alternative tourism on Pu-pan mountain range, consisted of 5 aspects as follows: (1) the service, (2) the tour activities, (3) the environmental condition, (4) the management and (5) the marketing enhancement. For group service, there were 4 levels of alternative tourists: (1) the consumer group with high price, (2) the consumer group with moderate level of income, (3) the consumer group with not high level of income and (4) the consumer group as students. The appropriate activities should be managed for the consumers. Conclusion/Recommendations: The continuous activity implementation in Pu-pan mountain range, if it was regular developed, would affect the community economic system since the place not only related to historical story, but also had fertile nature for creating the tour atmosphere very well.