การพัฒนามัคคุเทศก์ท้องถิ่นเพี่อส่งเสริมการท่องเที่ยวเชิงนิเวศกรณีศึกษา : บ้านเอียก หมู่ที่ 5 ตำบลสันป่ายาง อำเภอแม่แตง จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

Abstract

This research and development project investigated contexts and potential regarding readiness of the community in developing local guides and developed local guides for the promotion of the community ecotourism. The investigation was a participatory action research involving community leaders, representatives of the villagers and the researchers participating in surveying and analyzing the community potential. The development processes included training and field visits, lectures, achievement tests before and after the training, and field practice with sample tourists using the services and assessing the performances by using a satisfaction questionnaire. Additionally, the trainees were assessed their practical skills and behavior observation. The data were analyzed quantitatively and presented descriptively. The research findings reveal that the community has a potential to be developed into a tourist attraction. Geographically, the village is beautiful with cool climates all year round. The villagers lead a traditional rural and kin-like lifestyle, maintaining their conventional northern culture and traditions. In terms of developing the local guides, the learning processes and activities yielded them knowledge that could enhance their skills and confidence, enabling them to become more expressive and to give the community’s socio-economic, traditional and cultural information to tourists as well as to recommend them attraction sites in their community.