Tourism Carrying Capacity in Ban Mai Rut Communities Base Tourism, Khlong Yai District, Trat Province

Abstract

          The researchers conducted the study of tourism carrying capacity in tourist attractions as a guideline to determine the maximum number of people that may visit a tourist destination at the same time in Ban Mai Rut Community, Mai Rut Subdistrict, Khlong Yai District, Trat Province, which will be useful for determining the capability of supporting. When there are more people than a region can handle, the situation is described as over-tourism. Thus, if not prevented It will be a detriment to the development of Ban Mai Rut community tourism to a sustainable tourist destination and will violate the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC-D), which will adversely affect Ban Mai Rut community tourism in the future. However, the researchers have studied  (1) bio-physical carrying capacity (PCC) (2) managerial of facility carrying capacity (FCC), and (3) social and culture carrying capacity (SCC). Study by analyzing documents, gathering information from group discussions together with a semi-structured interview by the purposive sampling method. The contents consist of management and facilities information, eco information and socio-cultural information by means of identity and tourism activities in Village No. 1, which is a community along the Mai Rut Canal. The researchers studied the issues of knowledge and understanding in community tourism management, perceived the conflict in the community, community attitudes, impacts, and satisfaction. Thus, the researchers use the Likert Rating Scale, level 1-5, together with 0 refer to   non-existence to analyze the society and culture (SCC).

          The results of the study on the capacity to support biophysical tourism found that the mangrove forest in Ban Mai Rood community. There are a variety of insects and birds, including herbivorous insects. predatory insects pollinating insects. Especially the oriental pied hornbill; the bird that indicates the abundance of nature and ecosystems. The capacity of supporting tourism side in management and facilities. There are both basic utilities and readiness for tourism activities, including basic utilities systems, and the readiness of tourism activities included the availability of local agencies that will facilitate tourists. The maximum number of tourists should be set according to the capacity of the attraction. For the socio-cultural carrying capacity is in the normal situation. Ban Mai Rood community without any social conflicts that negative impact on tourism, and lacking of any conflicts caused by tourism. While the bio-physical carrying capacity is perfect, but the somethings of facility carrying capacity should be developed and improved such as providing restroom in tourist attractions, shops, restaurants, etc.