The Guideline of Water Adventure Tourism with participation community management of Mae Suai River raft for Wiang Suay Sub-district Municipality Chiang Rai Province.

Abstract

This research The objectives were as follows: 1) to study the situation of water tourism and 2) to study tourists' behavior and 3) to approach the management of water-based adventure tourism on the Mae Suai River with the participation of the community. in the area of Wiang Suai Subdistrict Municipality Chiang Rai. The researcher selected using purposive sampling technique and data collection was conducted by objectives as followed This research uses qualitative research which selected a purposive sampling technique consisting of formal community leaders and wet raft committee and those involved in community-based tourism management The total number of participants was 10 people. The research method used data collections and semi-structured interview and using basic statistics to descriptive study results and using content analysis. The result of studied finding was as follow: 1) Mae Suai River raft for Wiang Suay Sub-district Municipality Chiang Rai Province has become less popular due to the COVID-19 epidemic situation. In addition, the drainage from Mae Suai Dam is the main factor in rafting caused to have fewer tourists between the tourist season was started from October – March in every year. Although, the results of the interviews with the opinions of community leaders Government officials involved in tourism development and 10 communities’ tourism stakeholder found that the wet raft tourism activities did not have a right standard as well as the water tourism safety standard because the water released from the Mae Suai Dam. Therefore, there are concerns about the management of wet raft tourism including the lack of knowledge about the tides environment and ecosystems surrounding the activity area. 2) wet raft tourists is a Thai tourist and travel on their own Come as a family and travel on vacation. The average cost is 100 -300 baht per person. Tourists are interested in maintaining cleanliness and doing wet raft activities. Then, 3) a guideline for tourism management on the Mae Suai River based on community participation for sustainable tourism management with the government sector, private sector and local communities should work together to define criteria to enforce business operations and management of water resources that are tourist attraction points.