An effective approach to tourism development for Tarutao National Park

An effective approach to tourism development for Tarutao National Park
แนวทางพัฒนาการท่องเที่ยวอุทยานแห่งชาติตะรุเตา

Kaedsiri Jaroenwisan, D. of Business Ad., F. of Management Sci., PSU.
Umporn Wiriyacosol, Assoc. Prof., D. of Business Ad., F. of Management Sci., PSU.
Corresponding e-mail : jkaedsir@ratree.psu.ac.th

Grant : Government Budget
Published : Songklanakarin J of Soc Sci & Hum 2000, 6(2) : 115-128 and Proceeding of the 4th International Conference Tourism and Hotel Industry in Indo-China & Southeast Asia : Development, Marketing, and Sustainability 2000 : 337-342
Key words : tourism development, Tarutao National Park

This research is an exploratory study aiming to determine the existing problems and limitations, and to find appropriate directions to develop tourism of the Tarutao National Park. These development directions must be under laws, rules, and policies of The Royal Forest Department and Tourism Au-thority of Thailand. Data were gathered both from secondary and primary sources. Qualitative study techniques were employed including personal interviewing, questionnaire interviewing, observation and recording, covering tourism related entities who were involved either directly and indirectly with Tarutao National Park's tourism. The data were analyzed and interpreted by applying the tourism planning theory, the sustainable theory, and ecotourism principles. An appropriate approach was then formulated.

Five important groups of people are involved with the Tarutao National Park's tourism. These groups were government administrators, tourism operators, tourist guides, and tourists. All these groups agree about the need to develop tourism in line with the conservation of natural resources, culture, and history. These agreements were based on the needs for improvement in transportation, infrastructure, and other services. From the study on tourist satisfaction, it was found that the level of general satisfaction was medium to rather good except for electricity, water, and food the level of satisfaction was low and should be improved. On the other hand, the service personnel, all of whom were attached to the Royal Forest Department, felt that the quality of service and management are in between medium level to rather satisfactory. They also felt that tourist behaviour in general was somewhere between medium level to rather good level but the need for proper knowledge about eco-tourism among tourists was suggested. Despite the good intention of the National Park to provide the best services available to tourists under the limitations of geographical location and governmental rules and laws, most of the groups indicated the need for improvement in services and management. The possibility of allowing private organizations to provide services under the supervision of the National Park should be considered. Professional and efficient management must be emphasized, especially in the selection and control of the service providers.

Ecotourism of Tarutao National Park needs cooperation from many organizations, namely, The Royal Forest Department, The Harbour Department, The Fine Art Department, Department of Fisheries, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Police Office, provincial government offices, and tourism operators. Therefore, The National Park should emphasize on the role of a coordinator who seeks cooperation between these organizations. The possibility of allowing private operators to ope-rate some tourist services should be considered. However, a strict control by the National Park is highly necessary to see that the private operators do not operate for profit making at the expense of the main objective of the National Park, that is the conservation of environment.

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