ศักยภาพองค์กรปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่นในการจัดการท่องเที่ยวเชิงนิเวศ : กรณีศึกษาตำบลศาลาด่าน อำเภอเกาะลันตา จังหวัดกระบี่

Abstract

The purposes of this study on potential of a local administrative organization in ecotourism management: a case study of Saladan Sub-district, Ko Lanta District, Krabi Province were to explore potential of this local administrative organization in its work that affected ecotourism management, and examine work potential factors of the sub-district administrative organization affecting ecotourism management. Data were collected through 439 copies of questionnaire responded by employees of the sub-district administrative organization, tourists, and local people. The statistics used in data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation, variance analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Qualitative data were collected from 20 informants consisting of employees of Saladan Sub-district Administrative Organization, tourists, and local people. The study found that the potential of the local administrative organization in ecotourism management was at a moderate level with tourist attractions management at the highest level of potential, and enforcement of rules, regulations and laws was at the lowest level. The comparison between personal factors and levels of ecotourism management revealed that subjects with different levels of education were significantly different in their opinions on ecotourism management at the level 0.01; subjects with primary education were different in their opinions from those with lower-secondary and higher-secondary school education or equivalent on ecotourism management at a statistical significance of 0.05. Analysis to determine independent variables affecting dependent variables revealed that overall, there were four potential work factors: tourist attractions management, personnel management, local participation management, and rules, regulations, and law. They positively affected the levels of ecotourism management in terms of activity, management, and participation at the statistical significance level of 0.05. The factor that most affected ecotourism management was work potential in management of tourist attractions. Keywords: Ecotourism, potential, local administrative organization