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ABSTRACT (to be less than 500 words):

A STUDY OF WATER-BASED ECOTOURISM AT BUENG BORAPET WETLAND,

NAKHON SAWAN PROVINCE, THAILAND

NOPPAMAST SAE-TANG1 SANSANEE CHOOWAEW1

RAMESH BOONRATANA2 UTAIWAN PHUTHED3

1. Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University

2. Science Division, Mahidol University International College

3. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University

The eleventh National Economic and Social Development Plan in 2012-2015

focuses on economic growth and tourism development [3]. In 2013, the tourism industry
alone generated up to 32,797.6 million US dollar revenue for Thailand [1]. This has led to the
increase in the use of natural resources. Without effective tourism planning and management
there may be detrimental effects to the local culture and ecosystem which has led to the
establishing of the ecotourism policy since 1998 [6]. Bueng Borapet Wetland is one of the
many ecotourism attractions in Thailand. It has been supported and promoted as an attraction
from the local to national level because it is the largest freshwater lake in Thailand with an
area of 212.38 sq.kms. Bueng Borapet Wetland is rich in biodiversity and is economic, social,
and environmental importance to Thailand [2,5]. The biodiversity and beauty of the natural
and cultural resources have led to the development of water-based ecotourism activities for
visitors to experience the nature’s beauty, and simultaneously gain knowledge about the
ecotourism attraction. This research aims to find the existing areas of water-based ecotourism
activities at Bueng Borapet Wetland by employing in-depth interviews and purposive
sampling. The interviews will be conducted with local officers, local boat service providers,
local people, and local academic specialists. Lastly, the result will be analyzed and finalize the
areas of water-based ecotourism. The results will contribute to effective water-based
ecotourism management such as avoiding fragile ecosystem zones and decreasing negative
impacts; which occur from the ecotourism activities.
Keywords: Bueng Borapet Wetland, water-based ecotourism

References

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2013, Ministry of Tourism and Sport. Retrieved December 3, 2013 from
http://tourism.go.th/uploads/Stat/247.pdf.

[2] Eiamumpai, K. (2006). Water bird nesting at Wetland Bueng Borapet. In a research paper
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and Plant Conservation. Bangkok. [in Thai version].

[3] Ministry of Tourism and Sports. (2011). National Tourism Development Plan for the year
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[4] National Economic and Social Development Board. (2013). The National Economic and
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[5] Sansanee, C. ,Chaichana, R., Chairat, R. Nakapakorn, K., Boontanon, N., Yoongthong, S.,
Chantawichanuwong, A., Oontapan, N., Anuttrarangkul, N., Awakul, P., and
Chidchua, S. (2014). Final report: Participatory research for conservation and wise
use on wetland. Wetland research and training center. Faculty of Environment and
Resource Studies. Mahidol University. March 2014.

[6] Tourism Authority of Thailand. (2001). National ecotourism action plan. Bangkok. [in Thai
version].