Tourists' perceptions of wildlife and national parks in northern Thailand

ABSTRACT: Using questionnaires, 967 tourists (490 foreigners, 477 Thais) were asked about their attitudes towards wildlife and national parks in northern Thailand. Both Thais and foreigners ranked wildlife conservation and protection of watersheds as more highly important functions of national parks than tourism and recreation. Most tourists thought that the construction of tourist facilities e.g. roads, hotels etc. should not be permitted in national parks. Tourists were prepared to pay high prices for guided treks to see wildlife in their natural habitats. Mean prices suggested by foreigners and Thais respectively were 371 & 321 THB to see elephants, 280 & 300 THB to see gibbons and 287 & 260 THB to see Thailand's largest flower (Rafflesia). Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon were the most popular parks in the north. Visitors' most preferred activities in national parks were walking along forest trails and visiting waterfalls. Touring by motor vehicles was not very popular. More than half of visitors to Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon were satisfied with existing accommodation, transportation and walking trails, but most complained about lack of information and facilities for viewing wildlife. Most visitors to both parks thought that they had been spoilt by deforestation, pollution and tourism development. To satisfy the demands of tourists, no development of roads or large hotels in national parks is necessary. Instead tourism development should focus on providing better information and facilities for viewing wildlife (guided treks, hides etc.). The survey results also ranked forest restoration and garbage removal as high priorities.