Evaluation and Enhancement of Community-Based Green Tourism Potential in Koh Pha-nga Island, Sustainable, Ranong Province, Thailand

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate and enhance the readiness management of community-based tourism's green potential in Koh Phayam, Ranong Province, Thailand, toward sustainable tourism. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, collecting quantitative data from a sample of 296 residents in the Koh Phayam community and qualitative data from in-depth interviews with government representatives and focus group discussions with private sector entrepreneurs. The assessment of the level of readiness across the 10 aspects of green potential revealed varied performance. The highest overall readiness was observed in the top three aspects, categorized as "Highest": Caring for Nature ( = 4.56), Management and Information ( = 4.48), and Caring for Culture ( = 4.44), which demonstrates the community's strength in conservation and knowledge dissemination. Conversely, aspects falling into the "Moderate" category included Caring for Climate ( = 2.73), Caring for Water ( = 3.04), and Good Employment ( = 3.17). The dimension with the lowest overall readiness was Food & Products ( = 2.50), categorized as "Lowest". A closer examination of the sub-items highlighted significant gaps in financial commitment and stringent standards, particularly in offsetting at least 10% of annual carbon emissions ( = 1.10), investing at least 10% of revenue in community sustainability projects ( = 1.75), and offering at least 80% organic food ( = 1.71). These findings suggest that despite high readiness in conservation and communication, major gaps exist in formalizing policy, financially investing in green initiatives, and adopting strict environmental practices. The results are intended to serve as sustainable management guidelines for achieving a balance between income generation and the conservation of natural and cultural resources in Koh Phayam, Ranong Province, Thailand.