RECREATION OPPORTUNITY SPECTRUM CLASSIFICATION IN NATURAL TOURISM ATTRACTIONS, CHIANG RAI PROVINCE

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1 RECREATION OPPORTUNITY SPECTRUM CLASSIFICATION IN NATURAL TOURISM ATTRACTIONS, CHIANG RAI PROVINCE Author names: Ms.KhwanruethaiKrongyut 1,Ms.Duangsiri Poomvichuvech 2, Ms.Narumon Suman 1 address: khwanruethai.kro@crru.ac.th, duangsiri.poo@crru.ac.th. narumon.sum@crru.ac.th Abstract This study classifies the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum of ten natural attractions in Chiang Rai Province. The results are analyzed by three tourism planning and natural attraction management specialists using a weighted equation with tree factors accessibility, naturalness and development, and the tourist experiences The research finds that the overall score of surveyed attractions averages at 2.65 (on a score of 1 to 5). However, the analysis indicates that Nam Lod Cave show as Primitive with score of Phu Chi Fa Forest Park and Khun Jae Waterfall show as Semi-primitive Non-motorized with score of 3.88 and 3.75 respectively. Khun Korn Waterfall show as Semi- primitive Motorized with score of Pla Cave, Buddha Cave, Tad Luang Waterfall, and Pukang Waterfall show as Semi Developed as 2.20, 2.23, 2.60 and 2.51, respectively. PaSert Hot Spring and Mae Ka Jan Hot Spring show as Developed with score of 1.33 and 1.31 respectively. The appropriate tourism activities are recreation, natural walking trails, picnicking, camping and sightseeing. Moreover, the results indicate that Thad Luang Waterfall has the lowest level of tourism potential due to a lack of government responsibility, support and development. The results suggest that Chiang Rai province should focus more on tourist attraction potential. Amenities and facilities must be managed and maintained in harmony with different attractions surroundings and ecosystems. The zoning of tourist are as must be linked with the purpose of tourism activities to protect them from undue environmental impact. Furthermore, the effect of tourism should be monitored and managed. 1 Lecturer of Tourism Management, School of Tourism, Chiangrai Rajabhat University 2 Lecturer of Tourism and Hospitality Management, School of Tourism, Chiangrai Rajabhat University 1

2 Key words: Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, Natural Tourism Attractions, Chiang Rai Province Introduction Tourism in Chiang Rai focuses on its many natural attractions, and it is a favorite destination for domestic and international tourists. The province has 37 natural attractions, including mountains, waterfalls, caves and hot springs. However, natural attractions in Chiang Rai are inconsistently managed, and often in ways that are environmentally unsustainable. Moreover, the government currently has no one directly responsible for developing natural destinations for tourism, which exacerbates these problems. Tourism promotion and support in the area has generally ignored the idea of sustainable tourism, and the authorities in charge lack skill and knowledge in tourism management. Therefore, the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum Classification in Tourism Attractions is a necessary tool to help with nature-based tourism management and navigate among the various tourism activities. In addition, the results of evaluation lead to an appropriate and sustainable natural tourism attractions development model, activity plan and ecosystem maintenance plan for each attraction. Objectives To classifies the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum of ten natural attractions in Chiang Rai Province. Methodology The study is a survey conducted by three tourism planning and natural attraction management specialists. It aims to classify 10 natural tourism attractions in Chiang Rai Province: NamLod Cave, Fish Cave, ThamPhra Cave, KhunKorn Waterfall, PooGang Waterfall, Khun Jae Waterfall, Thad Luang Waterfall, Mawkachan Hot Spring, PhaSert Hot Spring and Phu Chee Pha Natural Park. The research tools and materials are: - Portable geographic positioning system (GPS), digital camera, notebook and stationary. - Recreation Opportunity Spectrum form (ROS) included 3 major factor and indicators with 5 levels score (Table 1) 2

3 The classification of Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS), is defined by the levels of the attraction scores from the principle of ROS as following = Developed, D = Semi-Developed, SD = Semi-Primitive Motorized, SPM = Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized, SPNM = Primitive, P Table 1: Factor and indicator for classification of recreation opportunity spectrum Factor and Evaluation Criteria Indicator Accessibility 1.1 Difficult to 1 = very easy 2 = quite easy 3 = rather difficult access 4 = difficult 5 = very difficult 1.2 Route type 1 = Concrete or paved 4 lanes for all vehicles 2 = Concrete or paved 2 lanes for all vehicles 3 = Concrete or paved 1 lanes, no pavement for all vehicles except buses 4 = Gravel or dirt roads for bike trail and walking trails, nonmotorized 5 = No road to access the site 1.3 Distance of trial 1 = Walking less than 20 meters from the accessible 2 = Walking exceeding 100 meters from the accessible 3 = Walking exceeding 500 meters from the accessible 4 = Walking 501-1,500 meters from the accessible 5 = Walking more than 1,501 meters from the accessible 2 Natural and development 3

4 Factor and Evaluation Criteria Indicator 2.1 Natural 1 = Site is a few naturally, natural conditions have obviously improved or permanently development, level of development is high - very high. 2 = Site is some spontaneity but conditions have improved or imitation, a persistent development over 80 percent with necessary and comfort facility but harmonious with nature, level of development is moderate - high 3 = Site is high natural but some conditions have improved, developed in semi-permanent and harmony with nature, level of development is moderate 4 = Site is high natural just few conditions have improved, develop in non-persistent and able to return natural easily 5 = Site is a very high natural, on improvement at all except trail but still naturally 2.2 Size developing 1 = has developed over 50 percent 2 = has developed percent 3 = has developed percent 4 = has developed 10 or less percent 5 =no developments 2.3 Objective of 1 = necessary and comfortable facilities for all visitor facilities 2 = moderate - high comfortable, focus on protect the tourists such as toilet trash 3 = focus on protect the tourists and prevent natural such as trial boardwalk bins 4 = focus on prevent natural 5 = no facilities developed 3 tourist experience 3.1 self - reliance 1 = lowest self - reliance 2 = low self - reliance 3 = moderate self - reliance 4 = high self - reliance 4

5 Factor and Evaluation Criteria Indicator 5 = highest self - reliance 3.2 tourist control 1 = seen the officers patrolling all the time, have a warning label of danger and conditions of use 2 = seen the officers patrolling, give sense of security and create confidence for tourists 3 = seen the officers patrolling sometime, have interpretive signage, warning signs,conditions of use 4 = no official, have only interpretive signage, warning signs,conditions of use, how to protect the environment 5 = no signs or official visitors will need to take care of themselves Source : improved from Clark,RN et al (1979),Dachanee et al (2004), Napawan et al, (2005)Dachanee (2011) Results The results of our nature-based tourism resources classifies by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum concept in Chiang Rai province show that overall score of surveyed attractions averages at 2.65 (on a score of 1 to 5) that represent in Semi-Primitive Motorized, SPM. However, when classified each area the finding are following 1. NamLod Cave is the Primitive, P in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 4.02 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in high level. The average scores are 3.25, 4.00, and Fish Cave is the Semi-Developed, SD in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 2.20 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in low to middle level. The average scores are 2.25, 1.33, and ThamPhra Cave is the Semi-Developed, SD in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 2.23 that separately consider from the each factors and the 5

6 results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in low to middle level. The average scores are 1.75, 1.89, and Khun Jae Waterfall is the Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized, SPNM in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 3.75 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in high level. The average scores are 3.75, 4.00, and Thad Luang Waterfall is the Semi-Developed, SD in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 2.60 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in middle level. The average scores are 2.50, 2.33, and PooGang Waterfall is the Semi-Developed, SD in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 2.51 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in middle level. The average scores are 2.25, 2.33, and KhunKorn Waterfall is the Semi-Primitive Motorized, SPM in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 2.65 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in low to middle level. The average scores are 1.92, 3.22, and Maekachan Hot spring is the Developed, D in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 1.31 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in low level. The average scores are 0.75, 1.00, and Phasert Hot spring is the Developed, D in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 1.33 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in low level. The average scores are 1.33, 1.00, and Phu Chee Pha Natural Park is the Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized, SPNM in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, ROS with score 3.88 that separately consider from the each factors and the results are as follow accessibility, natural and development, and tourist experience are in high level. The average scores are 3.25, 4.22, and 4.33 Table 2: Result of Recreation Opportunity Spectrum classification in Chiang Rai natural attractions 6

7 Factor and Indicators Cave Waterfall Hot spring Mou ntain NamLod Fish ThamPhra Khun Jae Thad Luang PooGang KhunKorn Maekachan PhaSert Phu Chee Pha 1. Accessibility 1.1 Difficult to access Route type Distance of trial Average Natural and development 2.1 Natural Size developing Objective of facilities Average Tourist experience 3.1 self - reliance tourist control Average Total score ROS Classification P SD SD SPNM SD SD SPM D D SPNM Discussion and Concluding The findings of this study show that overall, natural tourism attractions in Chiang Rai province have 4 from 5 spectrum of recreation Opportunity. There are NamLod Cave that show as Primitive because of the route to access the site is very far and difficulties and limited to used motor vehicle to access. It has also limit the facilities and controls the number of tourist, undeveloped of facilities in any area and continue original state of natural resources. Fish Cave ThamPhra Cave Thad Luang Waterfall PooGang Waterfall show as Semi-Developed due to the convenient to accessibility, fully facilities development for tourism, and relatively minor nature. Maekachan Hot spring and PhaSert Hot spring show as Developed from the development of facilities that available for mass tourist at higher 7

8 level than original nature, such as bathrooms, shops, restaurants, a mineral water bath, parking etc. and also reached easily. KhunKorn Waterfall show as Semi-Primitive Motorized from the continued integrity of the environment and natural resources, development facilities as necessary and can be reached easily. Khun Jae Waterfall and Phu Chee Pha Natural Park show as Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized because the areas still an abundance of natural vegetation, the development of the facilities are necessary for tourists safety. The recommendation base on this study is the natural tourism attractions in Chiang Rai should connect nature-based tourism development to management plans involving suitable amenities and facilities that are harmonious with the surroundings and ecosystem. Tourism management must be applied within the context of the immediate area. Moreover, environmental impact, zoning and tourist density are monitored and managed. As well as safety precautions and tourist discipline must be present for all nature-based tourist attractions. Most importantly, the related authorities must understand and expand their relationship with the locals in the area. References Clark, R.N. and G.H. Stankey. (1979). The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum: A Framework for Planning, Management and Research. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-98. Portland, OR: Northwest Forest Experiment Station Forest Service, USDA. Emphandhu, D (2011). East Forest Complex Management Planning Project. Bangkok: Faculty of Forestry. Kasatsart University. Emphandhu, D., Wannaleart, S., &Klubsuk, R. (2004). Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. Bangkok: Faculty of Forestry. Kasatsart University. Thanakarn, N., Arunpraparate, W., Pongpatthananurak, N., Noumpakdee, R., &Chumsangsri, T. (2005). Decision Support System for Sustainable Management Planning of Nature-based Recreation Areas Phase I. Bangkok: Faculty of Forestry. Kasatsart University. 8