The challenges of rural ecotourism: a case study of NorthEast Thailand

This thesis explores Thai stakeholders and their ecotourism experiences, in the context of recent tourism growth. It investigates who are the Thai rural ecotourism stakeholders.
Furthermore, it examines not only how do the Thai ecotourism stakeholders construct the concept of ecotourism but also what are Thai ecotourism stakeholders’ views on managing
ecotourism at the local level.

The three tourism destinations in Chaiyaphum province — Prang Ku, Ban Khwao and Pa Hin Ngam national park — were selected for the case studies. This research was conducted with the help of a variety of participants: government authorities, non-government agencies, tourism operators, domestic tourists, international tourists, and local communities. The key methods comprise interviews, focus groups, questionnaires and research diaries. Data was obtained from 32 interviews, 6 focus groups and 502 questionnaires.

The thesis findings illustrated the fact that Thai ecotourism stakeholders in rural areas affect the practices and the strength of relationship with the stakeholders, as well as the personal relationships within the same organisation.

The thesis findings ascertained that Thai ecotourism is tourism which involves the preservation, conservation and maintenance of natural, cultural and heritage values, that also benefits local communities.

The study of the stakeholders and their corporations in relation to ecotourism not only provided an understanding of the network structure, but also constitutes an original
perspective from which to view multi-stakeholder networks in the ecotourism areas. In empirical terms, the thesis successfully obtained rich data and insights into the roles,
responsibilities and relationships as a result of an intensive and extensive process of focus groups, interviews, questionnaires and research diaries. It is hoped that this thesis will be used in future research for observing stakeholders and their networks, both in Thailand and other countries.