การประยุกต์ใช้การประเมินผลกระทบทางสุขภาพในการประเมินโครงการท่องเที่ยวโดยชุมชนของแผนพัฒนาจังหวัดตรัง

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the economic, social, environmental and health impacts of the community-based tourism projects of Trang provincial development plan according to the ecotourism promotion and development strategies in order to continuously generate income. The following processes of health impact assessment were applied. 1) Public screening and scoping: This process was conducted to study the situation of community-based tourism in Trang Province and establish the linkage between the community-based tourism policies at the national level to the provincial level and determine the scope of content and evaluation indicators. In-depth interviews were administered with 6 key informants, and group discussions were organized for public screening and scoping with 22 stakeholders from government, local, private, public sectors and media. 2) Assessing: It was conducted to assess both positive and negative impacts on the economy, society, environment and health from the community-based tourism projects of Trang provincial development plan. Group discussions were organized with 25 stakeholders. 3) Public review and influencing: It was conducted to examine the accuracy and completeness of the information in the economic, social, environmental and health impact assessment report and to develop policy recommendations for improving the community-based tourism projects of Trang provincial development plan and propose the proposals for community-based tourism development in Trang Province. Group discussions were organized with 12 stakeholders. The research tools used in each process included the semi-structured in-depth interview form and the group discussion questions. In terms of the content validity, the IOC of the semi-structured in-depth interview form was 0.67-1.00. The IOC of the group discussion questions was 1.00. Data were analyzed by content analysis. The results of the public screening revealed that the participants in the focused group discussions had a consensus that the impacts of the community-based tourism should be assessed in the provincial development plan. The objectives of the impact assessment were defined for learning and development. The assessment results were also used the to determine future community-based tourism options. When considering the projects to be evaluated, it was found that in Trang provincial development plan (2018-2019), 4 projects were selected to be evaluated, namely the project of increasing the tourism competitiveness in Trang Province in 2018; the workshop for community-based tourism personnel in Trang Province; the project of increasing the tourism competitiveness in Trang Province in 2019 and the community-based tourism project for good and sustainable quality of life in Trang Province. The results of the public scoping of content and evaluation indicators revealed 4 dimensions of assessment: economy (3 indicators), society and culture (8 indicators), environment (5 indicators) and health (2 indicators). The assessment results of each indicator were as follows. Economy: The income generation of people in the community and organizations related to community-based tourism in Trang Province in the areas of Na Muen Si Subdistrict, Pak Jam Subdistrict, and the members of Kantang Hot Spring Health Product Community Enterprise was directly affected. The following negative impacts were also found. The network of Thai traditional medicine and folk healers was unable to produce herbal compress balls, and Na Muen Si Weaving Group cannot produce bags made from palmyra fibers for sale. Society and culture: Na Muen Si Subdistrict and Pak Jam Subdistrict were directly affected. People in these areas gathered, conserved and restored cultural heritage and wisdom of the community. The cultural lifestyles were spread, making the communities well-known and more famous within the province and among other provinces. The participation of network partners was also supported to link community-based tourism at the provincial level. Environment: The community-based tourism projects in the provincial development plan did not directly affect the environment. However, indirect impacts were found later in Na Muen Si Subdistrict, resulting in physical environment adjustment, road construction, and installation of light poles. On the other hand, it was found that tourism growth increased land sales for external investors. Negatively, this issue has changed a purpose of land uses of local farmer from doing agriculture to investment. The following issue was that those properties obstructed water flows which affected the rest of agricultural areas. Health: The community-based tourism projects affected the happiness of people in the community in terms of propagating the community’s way of life and culture, generating income, and the happiness of tourists who experience the retro atmosphere and community culture. The negative impacts raised concerns among the leaders of herbal compress ball development activities who were unable to produce the herbal compress balls as planned. The important proposals for the development of community-based tourism projects in Trang Province were as follows. 1) The working group of the provincial development plan on the tourism strategy should develop the community-based tourism projects as a series of projects separated from the mainstream tourism that covers the development of people capacity, products, marketing and public relations. 2) The Trang Provincial Office of Tourism and Sport should promote Lok Lom Na Muen Si Festival and cultural arts festivals to be international events. Fifteen proposals were also purposed to the working group for grassroots economic and civil state development of Trang Province to develop community-based tourism in Trang Province in 5 aspects: development of a strong working group mechanism, development of tourism personnel potential, development of tourist attractions, development of products and marketing and public relations. This assessment allows the participants who are the representatives of the organizations responsible for the projects and the stakeholders involved in the community-based tourism projects of the provincial development plan to learn about the situation of community-based tourism in Trang Province as well as positive and negative impacts from previous projects together. In addition, the policy recommendations have been made to improve the community-based tourism projects of the provincial development plan. The proposals for community-based tourism development in Trang Province have also been proposed to reduce negative impacts, create positive impacts and focus on sustainable tourism development.