This study aimed to investigate socio-cultural impacts of tourism
development in Chiangrai province, Thailand. To achieve the objective of the study, the
related issues were examined including the current situation of tourism, roles of
stakeholders, visitors’ opinions on tourism management and local communities’ views
toward socio-cultural impacts of tourism development. The methodologies adopted for
data collection were: semi-structured interviews, participatory rural appraisal and focus
groups with local residents and other stakeholders; participant observation; and selfcompletion
visitor surveys. Descriptive statistics was used for content analysis and
Statistic Package of Social Science (SPSS) was employed for data analysis of visitor
survey.
Three case studies were selected based on visitors’ numbers per year from
high, medium and low levels as follow: Ban Hard Krai in Chiang Khong District; Ban
Santakiri in Mae Fah Luang District and; Ban Raj-Pakdee in Thueng District.
The findings revealed that tourism had caused both positive and negative
impacts on the host communities. It was on one hand perceived as a contributor to the
locals’ income generation and distribution and indirectly helped to increase more
(ฏ)
education opportunities for the locals. But on the other hand, it caused negative impacts
on socio-culture of the host communities, which in the locals’ views was not important in
comparison with the economic benefit gains.
Tourism situation in Chiangrai province was determined as the tourism
that responses to the visitor’s demand and being operated based on the natural and
cultural resources in the destinations. The study also revealed a lack of local
participation in all stages of tourism development as well as cooperation amongst
stakeholders in tourism development processes. In addition, tourism potentials seemed
to be decreased due to the deterioration of tourism resources, lack of budget and
uncontinuously policy of involved stakeholders and its implementation.
From visitor’s point of view, in addition to an improvement in quality of
destinations, tourist’s recreation opportunities and tourist activities should be created to
attract more visitors. The study also indicated that social and cultural aspects of the host
communities were the most interesting attractions that need to be conserved. Most
visitors were unsatisfied with the situation that they were taken economically advantages
and dishonest behavior of the people in service sector.
The study suggested that due to the socio-economic development plans
of the country, tourism may not be concluded as an agent of socio-cultural changes in
the host destinations. Promotion of people participation in tourism development process,
education on sustainable tourism management, development with recognition of local
context, fair income distribution among stakeholders and empowerment of local
communities were essential issues that need to be concentrated in development of
tourism in order to mitigate or prevent negative impacts of tourism development.