The study of Tourism Resources and Tourism Behaviors for Ecotourism Development of Koh Chang, Trad Province, Thailand MR. SUPOT THAISURIYA GRADUATE SCHOOL Srinakharinwirot University Bangkok, Thailand

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES To explore tourism resources in Koh Chang, Trad province, Thailand To study behaviors of the ecotourists and related local people. To provide guidelines for ecotourism development

SCOPE OF THE STUDY 1. Area of Study : Koh Chang, Trad Province, Thailand 2. Scope of population and sample. The subjects of this research were 2 groups Local people who have been living in Koh Chang, Trad. 2.2 Thai tourists who visit to Koh Chang, Trad

SCOPE OF THE STUDY The questionnaires and depth interviews were conducted during July 1-31, 2009 in order to collect the research data. The samples of 415 Thai tourists were selected by convenience sampling method whereas 10 local people were depth interviewed to gather local information

SCOPE OF THE STUDY 3.Tools use in the study : The study tools were composed of 4 categories: 3.1 tourism resources survey form 3.2 facilities checklist form 3.3 interview Form for local people who live in Koh Chang district, and 3.4 questionnaire for Thai tourists who visit Koh Chang District.

TOURISM RESOURCES TOURISM RESOURCES IN KOCH CHANG Natural resources Cultural and historical resources Tradition and festival resources Activity resources Service Resources

. Natural resources White Sand Beach (Had Sai Khao)

Natural resources KLONG PRAO BEACH (Had Klong Prao)

Natural resources KAI BAE BAECH ( HAD KAI BAE)

Natural resources

. Cultural and historical resources Koh Chang Naval Battle Monument Bao fishing village, Salak Phet Village

Tradition and festival resources Songkran Thai New Year New Year Festival Navy bravery at Battle of Koh Chang Festival.

Activity resources Diving for observing coral reefs, walking through natural forests, riding bicycles or motorcycles around the island, canoeing, and kayaking.

Service Resources Accommodation Transportation Shops Tourists Information Hospital

Transportation

Tourists Information

Hospital

FACILITIES CHECKLIST RESULT

GUIDE POST

RESTROOM

CAR PARKING

ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEWING FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY The results revealed that most of people in the community have less knowledge about ecotourism. The local people in the community would like to have related agencies for promoting and providing knowledge in order to acknowledge and recognize importance of the environment. In addition, governments should take environmental management into their account seriously. Local people recognize that tourism resources in their community are abundances. Somehow, if there we are careless and do not conserve them seriously, it may cause resources degradation and destruction entirely.

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF THAI TOURISTS TO VISIT KOH CHANG The samples of tourists are majority are female They are years old single, obtained graduation of bachelors degree, private employees. Their incomes are between 10,001 to 20,000 Baht

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF THAI TOURISTS TO VISIT KOH CHANG The most attractive destinations where the tourists had visited are marine tourism destinations including beaches and islands. They normally came with their friends and stayed overnight at hotels. They stayed two nights, on average, their purpose is to recreation. The most Tourists received tourism information from friends, family, and relatives.

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF THAI TOURISTS TO VISIT KOH CHANG After visiting to Koh Chang, the tourists while have a impression and would like to return to Koh Chang again. They had spent generally more than 4,000 U.S. for visiting ecotourism in Koh Chang

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF THAI TOURISTS TO VISIT KOH CHANG The tourists opinion on tourism resources in Koh Chang. Tourists think Koh Chang is high potential in ecotourism. The understanding of tourists and the people about ecotourism have found that tourists have knowledge, understanding of ecotourism.

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF THAI TOURISTS TO VISIT KOH CHANG The tourists opinion on tourism resources in Koh Chang. Tourists think Koh Chang is high potential in ecotourism. The understanding of tourists and the people about ecotourism have found that tourists have knowledge, understanding of ecotourism. The tourist satisfaction is about eco-tourism in Koh Chang. Overall, in level "High" by tourists are satisfied, Landscape and scenery as possible

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF THAI TOURISTS TO VISIT KOH CHANG The tourists opinion on tourism resources in Koh Chang. They suggested that the local people and tourists should take care about the cleanliness of the island. And adding the trash, controlling of food products, services of transportation and accommodation is appropriate and fair

ECOTOURIS DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES OF KOH CHANG 1. Area development. There should control the security of traveling such as roads that may be bumpy due to rain, Adding lights and warning signs for the risk point and control services to the standards of environmental protection and intrusion prevention space.

Road in Koh Chang (Lonely Beach)

ECOTOURIS DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES OF KOH CHANG 2. Activity development and learning process There should have agencies for training to knowledge about eco-tourism and the importance of tourism resources and the community including tourists to recognize the value of nature and environmental conservation. May be organized for tourists or the people in the community to be conscious the value of tourism resources. Should be organized during not the high season for those tourists and the people in the community have been trained thoroughly

ECOTOURIS DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES OF KOH CHANG 3. Promoting the participation of local communities. The people in the community can participate in the management of eco-tourism. They should take a meeting with relevant agencies on a regular basis and should be in the low season so that those tourists and the people in the community have been trained thoroughly. In addition, should provide volunteer to take a different responsibilities that there may be encouraging local people to be local guides. Especially, youth who can be conscious cultural knowledge and local wisdom continuously.

ECOTOURIS DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES OF KOH CHANG 4. Tourism Management Government agencies or other concerned agencies should provide public relations and work cooperatively with private tourism sector such as hotels and resorts. In addition, there should be a central distribution center of the tourist area around the island because, currently, government tourist center is the only agency that responds and bases on Koh Chang. Tourists do not have the convenience of contact or inquiries. Most tourists will travel with a private tourism service. Sometimes tourists may not be fair to use the service.

DICUSSION Visiting to Koh Chang in Trad province of Thailand of tourists presently the majority of tourists are female more than male. Therefore, government agencies, private tourism sectors and the local people at Koh Chang should have more consideration on the security of each tourism destinations in order to ensure the tourists for thir safety. This impression can affect tourists for next visiting. The argument is according to Wipa Wattanapongchat (2542: 8) that tourists will consider the safety of life and property as important respects. Thus, tourism attractions should have been assured the security for all tourism resources.

DICUSSION Tourist behaviors of ecotourism as a whole are in "good" conditions. There are three main important tourist behaviors that are include following the rules and regulations, non-collecting natural objects as souvenirs, and studying the tourism information signs and symbols. From the survey results reflected that the tourists are responsible for nature and location. According that in line with the Tourism Association of Asia Pacific (Pacific Asia Travel Association: PATA) stated that tourism must be based on natural resources responsibility. To consider the existence treatment for the remainder of the next generation (children) or youth abiding without causing environmental degradation

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE RESEARCH NEXT TIME There should be more research conducted to find the ways for eco-tourism development and to act sustainably and conservatively. Scope of research should be expanded to cover areas nearby Koh Chang such as Koh Wai, Koh Lao Ya, Koh Klum so as to expand its route of travel for tourists. In present, group of foreign tourists visit Koh Chang increasingly the researcher proposed to be made a survey of foreign tourists for bringing the research results were compared with Thai tourists.

THANK YOU & QUESTIONS