International Journal of Asian Tourism Management ISSN: 1906-8654 Vol. 8 (1): 69-74, April, 2017 IMPACT OF TREKKING TOURS IN MAE WIN SUB-DISTRICT, N. Wongyai, et al. MAE WANG DISTRICT, PROVINCE

IMPACT OF TREKKING TOURS IN MAE WIN SUB-DISTRICT, MAE WANG DISTRICT,

Miss Nuengruethai Wongyai*, Varaphorn Duangsaeng, Monsicha Inthachak and Keerati Trakarnsirivanich

* School of Tourism Development, Maejo University,

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study were to explore: 1) trekking tour situations; 2) community participation in trekking tours; and 3) impacts of trekking tours on the community on the basis of economic, social, and cultural aspects. Informants in this study were 310 household heads and members in locale of the study. A set of questionnaires and interview schedules were use for data collection and analyzed by using descriptive statistics. Results of the study were as follows: Regarding trekking tour situations, results of the study revealed that there was an increase in a number of tourists for 70 percent during the high season but a decrease for 50 percent during the low season. Tourism activities in the area included elephant riding, rafting, trekking, homestay, coffee kiosk, and adventure activities. For community participation in trekking tours, it was found that the informants participated in planning at a moderate level in terms of planning, assessment, and problem solving. Regarding impacts of trekking tours on the community, findings showed that it had a positive impact on the economic aspect at a high level. This included job opportunity of local people; adjustment of basic structures on social and economic aspect; revenue generating, and production. However, there was a negative impact on incomes based on seasons, a high price of land, and business running by outsiders. For social impacts, it was found at a moderate level covering family changes, occupational changes, understanding, unity, migration, education, safety, values, and taking advantage. For cultural impacts, it was also found at a moderate level. This included construction of understanding to tourists, construction of a sense of belonging and pride of local identity, cultural exchange, trading, value changes, cultural dissemination, anti and conservation of culture.

Keywords: trekking tour, participation, economic impacts, social impacts, cultural impacts

INTRODUCTION Condition, 2016: pp.22-24). Chiangmai is a province where tourists prefer to visit like other Tourism is a world big industry which tourist places in Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, is important to the economic system, the and Krabi provinces. It is found that tourists development of infrastructure system, and the prefer to visit 20 provinces (94.2%) of Thailand development of quality of life. Besides, tourism (Thai tourism strategies, 2015-2017: p.10). Mae involves fun and entertainment (Tourism of Wang is a district in Chiangmai province where World, 2015: Online system). In the early there are diverse natural resources and cultures. 2016, Thailand had an income from tourism This district is a famous eco-tourism place in for 1,383,241.82 millions baht and there is a Chiangmai province. According to a study, tendency to reach 203,419.57 million baht in it was found that tourism industry has direct the near future (Report on Tourism Economic positive and negative impacts on the community

69 International Journal of Asian Tourism Management ISSN: 1906-8654 Vol. 8 (1): 69-74, April, 2017 IMPACT OF TREKKING TOURS IN MAE WIN SUB-DISTRICT, N. Wongyai, et al. MAE WANG DISTRICT, CHIANG MAI PROVINCE or ways of life in the community (Kesorn, 2008). value = 0.87). Thus, the questionnaire had In addition, tourism has an effect on economic reliability and could be used for data collection aspect (Kraidet, 2013) as well as social and (Taweerat, 2005: p.125). cultural aspects (Suparatpreecha, 2010). In conculsion, tourism has direct positive and Data Analyses negatives impacts on social, economic, cultural, and environmental aspects. Descriptive statistics (percentage, Community participation is another frequency, mean and standard deviation) role important to community-based tourism was used for data collection. Also, content management. This is because tourism causes analysis was done to conclude main ideas of changes and impacts on the community in the interview. Obtained data were sorted into terms of economic, social and cultural aspects, groups and completeness of the data was taken especially the adoption of outside culture into consideration. Chi-square was used for (Panthana, 2015: p.114). Furthermore, tourism finding personal factors having relationships has an effect on a better quality of life of people with the community participation in trekking in the community as well as the development tours. of basic infrastructure. Meanwhile, tourism causes migration and benefit seeking of RESULTS OF THE STUDY outsiders e.g. rental for business running, job opportunity, and entrepreneurs who get the According to general traits of the benefits (Suparatpreecha, 2014: p.78). informants, as a whole, results of the study Tourism management may cause positive revealed that most of them were female, 21-30 and negative changes within the community. years old, household members, married, and The study on impacts of trekking tours will bachelor’s degree holders. Their main occupation make us perceive problems in changes of the was business owner with an average monthly community due to tourism activities. Besides, income of 12,414 baht. They had been living in we can find a guideline for the reduction of the community for less than 30 years and they impacts of tourism to the community. This aims had household members of less than 3 person. to make the community has sustainable tourism Most of the informants were not engaged in management. tourism occupations.

RESEARCH METHOLOGY Trekking Tour Situations

Population Results of the study revealed that there was an increase in a number of tourists during The population in this study consisted the high season but a decrease during the low of 1,385 households (Data Center of Thailand, season. There were diverse tourism activities 2015: Online system). The sample group such as elephant riding, rafting, adventure consisted of 310 household heads and members activities, trekking, and homstay. It was expected obtained by the formula of Taro Yamane and that there was a tendency to have a continual systematic random sampling. increase in tourists within the next 15 years; that was, 24.7 million tourists in 2014 would reach Research Instruments 45 million tourists in 2030. This was under the assumption that tourism situations in Thailand Interview schedule and questionnaire were is in a normal condition which there is not any used for data collection and reliability test was crisis having an effect on Thai tourism. The conducted with 30 household (alpha coefficient target groups still not be changed but Chinese

70 International Journal of Asian Tourism Management ISSN: 1906-8654 Vol. 8 (1): 69-74, April, 2017 IMPACT OF TREKKING TOURS IN MAE WIN SUB-DISTRICT, N. Wongyai, et al. MAE WANG DISTRICT, CHIANG MAI PROVINCE tourists would have a decreased proportion DISCUSSIONS (Thai tourism strategies, 2015: p.9). Trekking Tour situations It was found that there was an increase in external entrepreneurs running their business in According to the study, it was found that the community particularly on coffee kiosk and there was a continual increase in a number of eatery. This was followed by tourism activities, Thai and foreign tourists visiting Mae Win sub- accommodation and homestay. Findings also district in 2016. This conformed to Thai tourism showed that the tourism form in Mae Win sub- situations which had been expanding continually. district could be classified into 3 types: eco- This was due to long vacations and the public tourism, cultural tourism and adventure tourism. measures on the stimulation of expenses during Community Participation in Trekking various festivals such as Sonkran days and Tourism reduction of personal income tax and corporate Findings showed that the informants still tax though out the year 2016. As a whole, 146.5 had no knowledge and understanding about the million Thai tourists would travel in the country participation in tourism management. This was in 2016 or 6.5 percent increased from 2015. because there was no support and promotion by This might cause the expenses for 8.35 billions concerned local agencies in terms of tourism baht or increased to 8.2 percent (Kasikorn activities, participation in assessment, and Thai Research Center, 2016: Online system). problem solving. Besides, it was found that most At present, Mae Win sub-district has a lot of of the informants did not realize on problems entrepreneurs from other areas making local arised from tourism activities because the lacked people have not much income from Tourism of knowledge and understanding about impacts as it should be. Suwan (2008, p.110). cited that of tourism. tourism makes economic benefits and generals Results of the study revealed that impacts incomes to many people. However, it also has on the economic aspect was found at a moderate disadvantages such as changes of economic level. Based on its details, it was found that the structure an unfair income distribution. Thus, community had impacts on economic structure people in tourist places should also get the most. This was followed by employment or benefits from tourism. This conforms to a study job opportunity, income earning, production, of Prachong (2005, p.193) who found that an an increased high price of land, external increase in a number of tourists has an effect entrepreneurs, conflicts of interest, and a high on the economic system o local people – from cost of living. For impacts on social aspect, it agriculture to service industry. Based on results was also found at a moderate level. Based on of the study, there were tow tourism forms in its details, it was found that the community Mae Win sub-district: eco-tourism/cultural had impacts on occupational changes most. tourism and adventure tourism. This was followed by changes in the family, construction of understanding to tourists, unity, Community Participation in Trekking Tours value changes, taking advantage by outsiders, and migration. For impacts on cultural aspect, According to results of the study, as a it was also found at a moderate level. Based whole, it was found that people in Mae Win sub- on its details, it was found that the community district participated in tourist management at a had impacts on cultural exchange most. This moderate level. This might not be beneficial to was followed by the construction of a sense of the community because having no community belonging, pride of local identity, promotion of participation may make them do not realize on production and local arts/culture, value change, value and a guideline for tourism management and anti adoption of culture. in the future. Hence, this will enhance outsiders

71 International Journal of Asian Tourism Management ISSN: 1906-8654 Vol. 8 (1): 69-74, April, 2017 IMPACT OF TREKKING TOURS IN MAE WIN SUB-DISTRICT, N. Wongyai, et al. MAE WANG DISTRICT, CHIANG MAI PROVINCE to seek for benefits in the community easily. great economic benefits to the local community Another reason is that people in the community and the country. Meanwhile, tourism also has do not have knowledge and understanding impacts on man in many aspects. Results of about local resource utilization and it will be the study showed that tourism in Mae Win sub- deteriorated when outsiders use it. Besides, district had both positive and negative impacts. local people can not earn incomes from tourism Other problems there were land selling and activities and there are changes in land holding. migration of people in the community as well This conformed t o a study of Chittangwattana as occupational shifting. (2009, p.72) which stated that tourism causes a problem in benefit sharing of the community. Impacts of Trekking Tours on the Social This is because tourism may open on opportunity Aspect for outsiders to run business in the community. In fact, the benefits from tourism should be in According to results of the study, trekking the hand of local people. tour had impacts on the community in terms of changes of occupation and basic livelihoods of people in the community. This conformed to a Impacts of Trekking Tours on Economic study of Chittangwattana, 1999: p.84) which Aspect revealed that changes in the occupation of local people cause the occurrence of tourism business According to results of the study, tourism to be responsive to needs of tourists. However, had both positive and negative impacts on migration of people in the community was not economy of tourist places. For the positive much found. It was found that trekking tours impact, it was found that tourism in the area also had direct impacts on local culture making creates employment and occupational changes conflicts among people in the community of people in the community. Presently, people (Choochart et.al, 2000: p.74). Tourism also had in the community turn to be an employee direct impacts on social aspect and behaviors generating supplementary incomes. For the of people in the community due to behavioral negative aspect, however, it was found that assimilation. Presently, there is a tendency that tourism causes occupation changes – from people in the community prefer to send their agriculture to service industry. Besides, the children to study in the urban area. The local economic expansion makes an increase in a tourism growth in the future may have an effect price of land in the community. Consequently, on households there who must adapt themselves all of these cause an increase in land selling more than ever. and migration (Social Research Institute, Chiang Mai University, 2005: Online system). Impacts of Trekking Tours on the Cultural As a matter of fact, impacts of tourism on the Aspect community make money has influence on local people. Also, only some groups of people gain Results of the study showed that benefits from tourism (Tourism Authority of households in the study had impacts on cultural Thailand, 2016: Online system). changes most. It was found that most homestay In addition, tourism caused changes service did not only have Thai food but also in main occupations, a high cost of living, western food which had an impact on cultural unemployment, and unworthiness in investment changes. This conformed to a study of Choochart such as a decrease in agricultural yields while et.al. (2000, p.221) which revealed that cultural there is an increase in needs. Results of the study dissemination and adoption of culture has been also conformed to a study of Chamderm, 2006: spreading from one society to others. Some p.74). It claimed that tourism industry brings adopted cultures should be screened properly

72 International Journal of Asian Tourism Management ISSN: 1906-8654 Vol. 8 (1): 69-74, April, 2017 IMPACT OF TREKKING TOURS IN MAE WIN SUB-DISTRICT, N. Wongyai, et al. MAE WANG DISTRICT, CHIANG MAI PROVINCE and it must not have conflicts with tradition. Kaewduangngam (2009, p.118) which found This was because a stronger culture may be that arised impacts cause value reduction of dispersed to a weaker culture which has to be existing community culture and eventually loss. adopted by force. This conformed to a study of Results of the study on personal factors had a relationship with community participation in trekking tours.

It was found that the variable having a relationship with community participation in trekking tours is occupation (P-value=0.045). However, sex, age, marital status, educational attainment, and income have no relationship with community participation in trekking tours as shown in the Table below.

Community participation in trekking Personal factors tours X2-test P-value Sex 6.069NS 0.194 Age 33.652NS 0.091 Marital status 7.153NS 0.847 Educational attainment 16.544NS 0.867 Occupation 26.691* 0.045 Income 23.527NS 0.489

Remarks Ns = Not having a statistical relationship * = Having a significant relationship at 0.05

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