Aree Naipinit’s research while affiliated with Khon Kaen University and other places

Purpose The aims of this study are to study the problems and challenges of community enterprises; to analyze their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; and to examine the guidelines of strategy management for community enterprises. Design/methodology/approach The authors utilized a qualitative method using in-depth interviews with 25 community enterprises and a focus group of 10 specialists to discuss strategy management of community enterprises, then analyzed the data using content analysis and descriptive analysis. Findings The study found that community enterprises face numerous problems, such as marketing challenges and the inability to transfer businesses to the next generation. However, the strong points of community enterprises include the involvement and support of a lot of government agencies and the opportunity presented by consumer requirements for the handicraft of goods and products. In this paper, the authors recommend eight strategic guidelines for the management of community enterprises; they also recommend that the government use the model of the Bangsai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand to set up policies that support community enterprises. Originality/value This study will be beneficial for the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative, Royal Thai Government, as a guideline for support of community enterprises in Thailand, and this study will benefit other countries with similarities to Thailand.

The aims of the research were to study how farmers use the land and become involved with agricultural land reform (ALR) in the Phuket province and to study guidelines for improving the regulations and management of ALRO4-01 land in the Phuket province. This research used qualitative methods, such as in-depth interviews with landowners involved in ALR, government officers of ALR in the Phuket province, and government officers of the agriculture department of the Phuket province. After collecting data in the first period, the researcher reported the information to an ALR expert. Determining the results involved the use of aerial photographs comparing land use between 2002 and 2007. An aerial photograph from 2002 shows a vacant area within the forest, as opposed to a 2007 photograph showing the vacant area covered by what almost look like rubber trees. The two patterns of the ALR area in the Phuket province were determined to be: 1) the areas designated for forestry preservation, for the community, and as an economic zone; and 2) the areas is not related to the economic zone. However, the areas of ALR that are far from the economic zone are nearly all vacant and feature a shrimp pond. Still, areas close to the economic zone include rented houses, restaurants, shops, rented rooms, and the Para rubber plantation. However, the survey found that the five land-use patterns were: 1) changed and no agricultural activity at the farm; 2) the owner rented out the area for a private tourism business; 3) a restaurant and shop located in the ALR area; 4) agricultural activity combined with a rented room or rented house in the area; and 5) the existence of agricultural activity on the farm. The five guidelines for land-use improvement in the ALR area in Phuket were: 1) Focus on the development and adjustment of farmer attitudes toward agricultural activity in the ALR area to improve the agriculture production system for high yield and high value; 2) improve the area to support eco-tourism activities; 3) farmers should manage the area, using some parts of the area for agriculture and others for supporting other businesses; 4) improve the Agriculture Land Reform Act, B.E. 2518 (ALRA1975) to support the present situation because it presently does not consider the dynamic of socio-economics; and 5) if ALRA1975 cannot be changed, make it illegal for the owner to use the Phayao model as a solution to the problem.

The purposes of this study are to understand (1) the motivations behind workers migrating to Singapore, (2) the obstacles faced by Thai workers in Singapore, (3) the obstacles faced by Thai workers after they return home, and (4) government support for the life sustainability of Thai migrant workers before and after they work in Singapore. We conducted in-depth interviews with thirty-five Thai migrant workers in Singapore and eight Thai workers who have worked in Singapore in the past. Our study indicates that the primary motivations to migrate to Singapore for work are to gain a better quality of life, to increase their earnings and to save money to support their families. Migrant workers are required to study English and Chinese before migrating to Singapore for work; otherwise, they are likely to have communication problems. Additionally, after returning from Singapore and resettling in Thailand, workers are considered to be highly skilled: they therefore need to get a job that provides an income matching their previous one in Singapore. However, if they receive an income similar to that earned by non-skilled workers, the Thai government should have policies to support them. © Common Ground, Aree Naipinit, Punya Tepsing, Thongphon Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn, All Rights Reserved.

This article presents a problem and threat in the management of tourism sustainability on Phuket Island. The study collected its data from in-depth interviews of 15 persons in three groups: 1) travelers, 2) residents, and 3) entrepreneurs. In addition, the research revealed seven factors that affect the management of tourism sustainability: 1) natural resources protection, 2) traffic jams, 3) tax policies, 4) cost of travel, 5) labor, 6) waste management, and 7) crime.

This article presents the economic and social effects of farmers growing para rubber in Northeast Thailand. We did in-depth interviews with government officials and farmers involved in the para rubber project implemented by Thailand’s government. From the study, we found that farmers growing para rubber have more income and a better quality of life. In addition, the social status of farmers growing para rubber is elevated within the community because their wealth is greatly increased after they sell their liquid para rubber.

The objective of this research was 1) to study community participation in tourism management at Busai Village Home Stay, Wangnamkheo District, Nakhon Ratchasim Province, and 2) to study the effect of the attitudes upon local tourism, particularly in Busai Village Homestay, Wangnamkheo District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. This research used both qualitative and quantitative methods, and the population studied was 155 family leaders of households in Busai Village Homestay. In addition, we used content analysis in the qualitative method, and in the quantitative method, we analyzed 155 questionnaires utilizing percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation with the SPSS/PC program. The findings were as follows: Community participation was high with regard to developing ideas for tourism management, in planning locations for tourist attractions and use of natural resources, in budgeting for supporting and developing tourist attractions, and in viewing tourist attractions as financially beneficial for the community. Villagers’ participation in keeping attractions clean and safe, in beautifying the attractions, and in receiving information on tourism were also high. The community’s overall attitude toward tourism was at a medium level. A widely held opinion was that Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO) should accept the people’s ideas in order to develop a tourism management system because TAO has not cooperated with the local people in tourism management as it should have. Apart from this, the local people believe that all people are the owners of natural resources serving as tourist attractions and that all should be responsible for taking care of them.. The local people should not protest tourism management, and neither should they consider it as the responsibility of TAO only.