The Guideline Development Agro-tourism Activities for to Promote Sustainability Ban Laem Sub-District Community, Suphan buri Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the context of Ban Laem Sub-district community. 2) to study the motivations of tourists interested in agro-tourism activities to promote sustainability. 3) to create guidelines for the development of agro-tourism activities to promote sustainability. It is a mixed method research, the tools used to collect data from the target group and sample groups by means of indepth interviews and questionnaires which were examined for validity and reliability from 3 experts. The target groups were 16 community leaders, government agencies, academia, people and farmers in the area and 400 tourists. Qualitative data analysis was done based on its content. Furthermore, quantitative data were analyzed by their frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The results of the research were as follows: 1) The context of Ban Laem Sub-district community area Suphan buri Province, a community located along the Suphan River was the subject of the research. Most of the villagers are farmers. The community has abundant resources suitable for tourism. Therefore, a group was organized to do tourism activities using local resources. 2) The motivation of tourists interested in agricultural tourism activities to promote sustainability were analyzed. Push factors to promote income for the community and the pull factors for agro-tourism activities arise from the application of resources within the community. The tourists' satisfaction was at the highest level. 3) Guidelines for developing agro-tourism activities to promote sustainability was formulated. Ban Laem Subdistrict Community can be analyzed in 9 ways as follows: ( 1) Should increase a variety of agricultural tourism activities. ( 2) Should organize and promote tourism activities. ( 3) There should be distribution and should organize activities of market people along the Suphan River. ( 4) Should participate in more tourism activities. ( 5) Should persuade relevant agencies to develop agricultural tourism activities. ( 6) Should solicit opinions from members. ( 7) Should increase terrarium activities. ( 8) Should use the leftover weeds as a learning base for making bio-fertilizer. ( 9) Herb planting activities should be increased in mixed plantation fields.