Guidelines for community tourism development at Wat Kay Chai Neua Community, Chum Saeng District, Nakhon Sawan Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to: 1. examine tourists’ expectations and perceptions toward tourism in the Wat Koet Chai Nuea Community, 2. investigate the community-based tourism potential of the Wat Koet Chai Nuea Community, and 3. propose guidelines for developing community-based tourism in the Wat Koet Chai Nuea Community. This study employed a mixed-methods research design integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative sample consisted of 400 tourists visiting the Wat Koet Chai Nuea Community, selected using accidental sampling. The qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with 15 key informants selected by purposive sampling. The findings revealed that: 1. tourists’ expectations and perceptions toward tourism in the Wat Koet Chai Nuea Community were overall at a high level, particularly regarding local culture, way of life, and community products, reflecting tourists’ strong interest in experiential tourism, 2. the community-based tourism potential of the Wat Koet Chai Nuea Community showed that tourism resources received the highest evaluation, especially the historical significance of the Wat Koet Chai Nuea, the community’s local reputation, and cultural activities associated with local wisdom, such as palm sugar production, indicating that the community possesses substantial cultural capital that can be further developed into creative tourism, and 3. the guidelines for developing community-based tourism should focus on sustainable development in economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions by emphasizing community ownership, utilizing cultural capital alongside skill development, strengthening the local economy through cultural resources, preserving local wisdom, and improving environmentally friendly infrastructure. Continuous collaboration among community members, public agencies, and private sectors is crucial for maximizing long-term tourism potential. This cooperative development will help establish the Wat Koet Chai Nuea Community as a unique and sustainable cultural tourism destination in the future.