Abstract:
The purposes of this research were to study behaviors of people who attended religious activities and went sightseeing at Khao Khitchakut National Park, and to develop strategies for natural resource and religious place management at Khao Khitchakut National Park. The research was divided into four stages. Stage1: studying problems and needs in managing Khao Khitchakut National Park from 169 samples consisting of government officers, tourists, monks, merchants and local people who lived or worked in Chanthaburi province using a check list questionnaire. The collected data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics. Stage2: studying behaviors
of 50 samples who went sightseeing or attended religious activities using an in-depth interview. Stage3: developing strategies for natural resources and religious place management. And, stage4: feasibility evaluation of strategy implementation by the experts and involved people.
The results revealed that 1) regarding to behaviors of people who attended religious activities and went sightseeing at Khao Khitchakut National Park, most of them had faith towards Lord Buddhas Footprint and Provost Thammasorakun (Kian Kunthasaro) as well as admired the beauty of nature. Many of them preferred to travel during daytime by car because it was exciting. Most encountered problems were crowed with people, narrow path, few pick-up trucks driving up the hill which resulting in long time waiting and lack of cooperation between organizations and
2) according to the strategic development for natural resource and religious place management
at Khao Khitchakut National Park, six strategies were drafted including: outstanding identity development strategy, effective service system and infrastructure development strategy, business image promotion strategy, development of a management system strategy, increase of personnel ability strategy and creation of awareness and participation strategy.