AE Towards Business Excellence FARM DEVELOPMENT TO BECOME AGRO-TOURISM AREA BY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN SARABURI, THAILAND Nartsuda CHEMNASIRI 1, Ph.D. Darunee KAEWMOUNG2, Ph.D. 1Chandrakasem Rajabhat University Bangkok,Thailand; Vice president for policy, planning and research, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chandrakasem Rajabhat University, Bangkok,Thailand. E-mail: [email protected] 2Head of tour Guide Center, Chandrakasem Rajabhat University ,Bangkok,Thailand _________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: The study was to investigate : 1) the potential of farms in Saraburi province as an agro-tourism area, and tourists attraction 2) tourists’ behaviors and requirements of an agro-tourism area ; and 3) development farms in Saraburi province for having qualifications to become an agro-tourism area and tourists attraction by community involvement. The population of this study included farmers, groups of farmers’ housewives in Saraburi province, and Thai tourists. Data were collected through interviews, survey, observation and inquiry. The instruments used in the study were semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics including frequency , percentage, arithmetic mean, mean score and standard deviation. Moreover, qualitative data were described in details. The study showed that farms in Saraburi province had a high degree of potential and qualification to become an agro-tourism area and tourists attraction. These were because of the unique physical and biological values, technology and agricultural way of life. There were many different types of tourist attractions such as orchid farm, orchard of guava, anthurium farm and dried rolled banana preserving, etc. In addition, it was found that there were transport facilities, safety, and a high degree of the readiness of tourist services and closing to the interesting cultural and famous places of the district. Concerning the tourists’ behaviors and requirements, the study was found that there were several kinds of agro-tourism activities such as visiting farm, cooking and fruits tasting, demonstrating of agricultural products processing and preserving fruit making practice. These activities were in accordance with tourists’ requirements. Result of this study indicated that there were various kinds of activities in developing farms to become an agro-tourism area and tourists attraction by community involvement. There were 1) a training activity and knowledge transfer regarding services and agro-tourism management for farmers or farmers’ housewives; 2) a strong coordination of all concerned group such as the chief of the district and community leaders or key persons in the community ;and 3) a budget plan for money spending from the government and concerned organization. Numr special Noiembrie 2008 184 AE Towards Business Excellence Keywords: agro-tourism, agro-tourism area, tourists attraction, community involvement, agro-tourism activities, agro-tourism service and management community leaders _________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Tourism is an activity which is a part of human life desirable since man requires new experiences to reduce tension and increase happiness in life. Nowadays,tourism expands rapidly all over the world. In the past, almost of tourism were mass tourism but at present it is changed into small group tourism which tourists search for experience from nature and care for environment. Therefore, tourism is about living the life of the people being visited, practicing the culture of the places, experiencing the same joy and pain in moments of celebration and despair as the people in the midst of who one is. It is all about forgetting one’s individual identity and deeply implanted cultural roots and getting lost among the crowd of the people one is with, and imitating them in every respect with the same zeal and vigour that is characteristic of the locals. It has long been recognized that the agricultural sector plays a vital role in the development process. The majority of the world’s population is poor and lives in rural areas. The most low-income countries tried to implement development strategies but these people will continue to live in rural areas with poverty. Consequently, it is now recognized that future agricultural and rural development strategies will have to be concerned with raising rural productivity while ensuring an equitable distribution of benefits (Biggs, 1982). Thailand has recognized that the development of agriculture is a more difficult process as in many countries, unemployment and the number of landless laborers have grown and real wage rates in agriculture have fallen. The government, try to solve the problem continually. And, because Thailand has a great amount of income from tourism, they have set up the idea of developing farms into agro-tourism areas and tourists attraction. The concept of agro- tourism is a direct expansion of ecotourism, which encourages visitors to experience agricultural life at first hand. This type of tourism is gathering strong support from small communities as rural people have realized the benefits of sustainable development brought about by similar forms of "green tourism". Visitors have the opportunity to work in the fields alongside real farmers and wade knee-deep in the sea with fishermen hauling in their nets. (www.ecotourdirectory.com) Moreover, it needs community involvement since it will enable participation from the local community in the development and operations of tourism with their consent and support. Another important feature is that a reasonable share of the revenues is enjoyed by the community. This type of tourism also maintains and respects the local culture, heritage and traditions. Often, community-based tourism actually reinforces and sometimes rescues these. Community-based tourism also implies respect and concern for the natural heritage, particularly where the environment is one of the attractions. Saraburi province is in the central region of Thailand. It is, about 108 kilometers from Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Main agricultural products are rice, sugar, cane, corn, sunflower, cattle and poultry. 185 Amfiteatru Economic AE Towards Business Excellence OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY This study had three main objectives: 1. To study the potential of farms in Saraburi province as an agro-tourism area, and tourists attraction 2. To study tourists’ behaviors and requirements of an agro-tourism area; and 3. To development farms in Saraburi province for having qualifications to become an agro-tourism area and tourists attraction by community involvement. LITERATURE REVIEW Agro-tourism may be defined into the following categories: 1. To take a journey temporary from ones' hometown to other destinations in order to relax oneself from work and tension. In addition one can learn and exchange ideas in producing and preserving food from agricultural products, culture, tradition scenery and good relationship with local people. 2. To take a journey voluntarily in order to study and exchange ideas on ways of local people and local wisdom. 3. It is a journey with no intention to work for earnings. The journey may aim for study tour, exchange ideas and experiences with others, study the target scenery or appreciate beautiful nature and environment of planned destinations. (www.southnfe.go.th/LearnSquare/2/agro1.htm) The concept of agro-tourism is a direct expansion of ecotourism, which encourages visitors to experience agricultural life at first hand. Agro-tourism is gathering strong support from small communities as rural people have realized the benefits of sustainable development brought about by similar forms of nature travel (www.ecotourdirectory.com/agroturism.htm). The aim of agro-tourism is to improve the life of farmers especially in remote areas or in areas with a developing economy. Agro- tourism brings growth to local communities, it facilitates the production of traditional products that would otherwise possibly vanish, such as fruit preserves. It assists in the preservation of crafts that would otherwise perish with the last artisan, preserves human memory through the revival of custom and traditional festivities, offers a communication channel between regions isolated from the large population centers and provides life-long opportunities to local youth. (www.alternativegreece.gr.). In Thailand, agro-tourism activities can be classified into six groups. 1. Products display or demonstration such as paddy seeds plot, agricultural steps of growing rice, and agricultural cultures in the past. 2. Agricultural activities by tourists’ participations such as field plowing, rice harvest, fruits gathering. 3. Home stays, that is, tourists’ stay at night in farmer’s house to learn agricultural way of life. 4. Agricultural knowledge training. This training aims to provide agricultural knowledge both of modern agricultural knowledge and local wisdom of villagers such as fruit preservation, making fruit and vegetable juice. 5. Agricultural products distribution such as flowers, fresh fruits, handicrafts, preserved eggs. 6. Agricultural business offering. Some tourists are businessmen who search for new agricultural projects to invest in. Therefore, they might join in agricultural business with farmers in such venture as processing agricultural products. Numr special Noiembrie 2008 186 AE Towards Business Excellence Research studies