Human Resource Development for Enhancing Tourism Resource Potential in the Development and Restoration of Tourist Attractions in Chulabhorn District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

           This research aims to assess the potential of tourism resources and to enhance human resource capacity in participatory tourism resource assessment. The study further aims to design and develop tourism routes and interpretive programs that support the restoration and development of tourist attractions in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The study employed a mixed-method survey approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data from a sample of 250 residents and conducting five practical training workshops. The findings revealed that most tourist sites in the area, such as the Inscription Stone at Chong Khoi Valley, Nop Khao Terik, and the Three Subdistrict Viewpoint, possess moderate potential and can be further developed to enhance their distinctiveness in terms of value, attractiveness, management, and development opportunities. Furthermore, the workshops aimed at strengthening skills in potential assessment, plant selection, landscape decoration, interpretive trail development, and landscape maintenance significantly improved participants’ learning outcomes (p < 0.01). Additionally, two main participatory tourism routes and programs were designed based on actual location coordinates, with appropriately calculated travel and visiting times. This study demonstrates that local human resource development is a crucial mechanism for promoting sustainable tourism and can serve as a model for other communities to effectively manage their own tourist attractions.