COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN MANAGEMENT OF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KOH YAO YAI, PHANG-NGA PROVINCE, THAILAND

This research aims to investigate the physical and characteristics of tourist attractions in Koh Yao Yai, to study the community participation in management of tourist attractions and to suggest the ways to participate to develop Koh Yao Yai to be sustainable site. This qualitative research builds a sample by extremely cases and maximum variation sampling. The target group includes Koh Yao Yai leaders 15 subjects and villagers 40 subjects. The data were collected during July 2016 by observation, in-depth interview and focus group discussion. The data analyzing process involved preparing, segmenting, coding, categorizing and themetizing. The results presented the nature in Koh Yao Yai is plentifully that includes forests and beaches where is the main tourist attraction. The community participation in management of tourist attractions in Koh Yao Yai includes 1) households self-manage garbage by burning and sanitary landfill closuring 2) community cooperates with municipality's garbage truck to separate and manage garbage in bin or bag as well as to co-operate cleaning beaches 3) villagers participate to preserve nature by tree planting along road and mangrove forest, zoning seagrass, and conserving heredity of sea animals and sea plant 4) community keeps well ways of life, believe and career to show the visitors, and 5) villagers participate to clean the island on big cleaning day each month. Koh Yao Yai should set up a conservation center and manage the wastewater, garbage separation system and add more glossary shops and homestays. The communities should more involve Koh Yao Yai by participation in decision-making and tourist attractions planning