Ninth International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

This research study explores rural development by using community-based tourism (CBT). The COVID-19 pandemic globally paused the tourism movement for more than 12 months, especially Thailand. It caused many CBTs problems, permanently closing, changing development direction, or going back to nothing ever happening. The study is mainly focused on financial dimensions. The research employs a qualitative method which discovered 12 CBT (26 key informants), conducted between 2022-2023 after the worldwide tourism shutdown. The study revealed that, after COVID-19, governments are still pushing CBT to be active by investing via local representative agencies. Some CBTs have ceased themselves, many still remain in service as a result of government promotion. Tourism revenue plays a vital role in the community but a number of communities found it hard to understand the situation. They are aware of the instability of tourism development. However, active CBTs see opportunity as tourists prefer travelling in a small group, creative experiences and meaningful moment. CBT is somehow addressed a significant role in Thailand tourism, but CBTs themselves are more aware this particular approach may not be the sustainable major income, they perceive constant change and admit the slow down.