COMMUNITY BASED-TOURISM (CBT) MANAGEMENT DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ALONG THE ANDAMAN COAST OF THAILAND

Abstract

Community-based tourism (CBT) have been challenged in the Coronavirus 2019 era. This qualitative research aims to explain the CBT management during the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic in five communities of five provinces along the Andaman coast of Thailand. The data were collected via online in-depth interviews and online focus group discussions, from totally 10 key informants of CBT entrepreneurs (two from each province/community). The data were analyzed by using content analysis. The results revealed that the CBT management during the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic was based on the communities’ cultural and natural resources. The tourism operation was focused on building confidence and safety for tourists.

Keywords

• community based-tourism (cbt)
• coronavirus 2019
• pandemic
• andaman coastal area
• thailand