On Planning and Evaluating for Sustaining Community-Based Tourism: Determining the Level of Managing Local Business Behaviors

Abstract

A community-based tourism operated in the idea and principle of sustainability is an ongoing mission and vision focused on providing values for the stakeholders, as well as for the community members humbly acknowledging that the greater good has been accomplished from their positive effort.  This research study seeks to explore on the planning and evaluating for sustaining community-based tourism in Chiang Mai, Thailand to determine the level of managing the local business behaviors.  The research objectives are the following:  exploring how the intentional planning design is carried out; providing insights on types of research report for maintaining the outcome and monitoring performance; learning the approach of evaluating the planning of development initiative; examining selected research tools for each evaluation plan.  Data collection method took an outcome mapping approach with a designed questionnaire for determining the extent of managing behaviors with five community-based tourism areas composing of ten local businesses and triangulated for deeper insight. A systematic sampling approach was conducted to seek out these local businesses that were considered as the main core of attracting travelers and visitors to their community. Findings of the work attest that managing behaviors for sustaining community-based tourism in general is not quite an effective outcome with a local network of small businesses.  Thus, a tourism administration would have to be established in overlooking activities occurring and implementing policies to ensure a foreseeable outcome.  The implication of this study is in raising awareness on the importance of certain practical ideas with planning and evaluation in sustaining a community-based tourism in Chiang Mai. The work points out that while some local communities have done well others are being challenged to set things in the right order when planning and evaluating. The work recommends for an independent management institution that is dedicated to the profession and practice of sustaining community-based tourism should be established in overseeing the local businesses who make up the tourism sector.