| Author | Phetvilay Panyada |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-14-09 |
| Subject(s) | Ecotourism--Evaluation Laos
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Regional and Rural Development Planning |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. RD-14-09 |
| Abstract | This research deals with Community-based Ecotourism (CBET) in Phou Khao Khouy National Protected Area. The objectives of this research were to examine people’s awareness on rules and regulations of CBET, their participation and satisfaction, to evaluate social and environmental benefits gained from CBET focusing on environmental practices, knowledge on protected area and skill enhancement on ecotourism, to assess economic benefits from CBET focusing on occupation, employment and income, and torecommend the implementation of CBET to increase more benefits to local people. Ban Na CBET, located in Thapabath district in Borikhamxay province, Lao PDR was selected as study area for this research. CBET activities in this area includedguiding the tourists for trekking, camping, wild-elephant watching at elephant observation tower, homestay services and handicraft. The benefits of CBET to local people were assessed in three main aspectsconsisting ofsocial, economic and environment.This study applied an evaluation research. A survey design was used with a standardized questionnaire mainly to assess the benefits gained based on the perceptionof local people of ninetysampledhouseholdsfrom both group-based tourism (GTA) and individual-based tourism (ITA). Moreover, field observation, key informants interview, semi-structuredinterview and focus group discussion were also applied. This research was focused on quantitative analysis with the support of qualitative approach.The main findings of this research showed thatall respondents received very high benefits on forest fire protection and forest plantation inenvironmental aspects. However, as comparedwith other type of environmental benefits, protection of wild-elephant in this area wasgainedat a low degree. Fromsocial aspects, all respondents from GTA and ITA gained very high benefits on promoting handicraft skills and cultural practices. Regarding economic benefits, GTA earned their average income from CBET per annumhigher than those from ITA. Several factors were found associated with the income earned from CBET of GTA respondents comprisedof number of years engaged in CBET and their participation in training program provided by CBET. Those who received vocational training, utilized their skills in ecotourism earned more income from CBETthan the others. The research concluded thatCBEThas the potentialsto enhance social, economic and environmental conditionsof rural people. However, several improvements are essential to includeITA in the vocational training and engaged them in several CBET activities due to its limited economic benefits generated to them.CBET rules and regulations enhanced the long term sustainableecotourism and minimized negative impacts on environmental resources. Most of CBET activities were met the satisfaction of local people although they neededmore technical support on English training forthe whole community and establishment of a local handicraft market. A set ofrecommendations were given to increase the benefits gained from CBET to local people. These were focused on providing training for ITA and GTA members, encouraging ITA members to be more involved in CBET activities and enhancing environmental conservation of local people. |
| Year | 2014 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. RD-14-09 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Soparth Pongquan |
| Examination Committee(s) | Routray, Jayant Kumar;Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2014 |