Enhancing the potential of community-based tourism on the basis of local identity through the integrating of university area-based development network partnerships in Tha Sao Subdistrict, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

The objective of this research was to enhance and promote the potential of Community-Based Tourism for Social Enterprise (CBT-SE) through Participatory Action Research (PAR) in collaboration with local networks. The study employed  purposive and convenience sampling to select 28 key stakeholders, categorized into three primary sectors: 1) the public sector (10 participants), including the Kanchanaburi provincial office of tourism and sports, Tha Sao Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Sai Yok District Community Development Office, Sai Yok District Agricultural Extension Office, and the research team; 2) the private sector (2 participants), comprising the Kanchanaburi tourism promotion associations and community enterprise networks; and 3) the civil society sector (16 participants), consisting of the village headman of Ban Phu Ong Ka (Moo4), 10 community enterprise members and 5 local residents. Data were gathered and utilized through focus group platforms, in-depth interviews, and product development workshops The research instruments included structured interviews, discussion guidelines for stakeholder focus group platforms, and workshop activities. Data were analyzed using content analysis and presented through descriptive synthesis to align with the research objectives. The research findings are summarized as follows: 1) Regarding the development of standardized tourism products and programs, the study successfully developed two processed community products: concentrated tamarind paste and spicy tamarind snacks. Additionally, two distinct tourism itineraries were developed: (a) "One Day in Sai Yok," which focuses on community lifestyle, spring water resources, and Mon ethnic cuisine, and (b) "The World War II Railway Heritage Route," which emphasizes historical cultural exploration and local gastronomy. In terms of elevating community tourism potential towards a Social Enterprise (CBT-SE) model, the research facilitated a stakeholder open-forum discussion supported by Rajabhat University Network, which has been registered as a CBT-SE. Supported by the Kudeejeen community network of Thon Buri, this collaborative process resulted in the official registration of the "Ban Phu Ong Ka Social Enterprise Group." This transition established a systematic mechanism for community-driven entrepreneurship and enhanced the community’s capacity for tourism management. Furthermore, knowledge transfer through workshops on food processing - specifically focused on concentrated tamarind paste and spicy tamarind snacks - provided the community with sustainable vocational skills, effectively integrating local resources into the social enterprise framework.