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Assessment of the Geotourism Resource Potential of the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark, Thailand

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A Correction to this article was published on 26 November 2021

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Abstract

The assessment of tourism potential is highly important for tourism development at the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark, the first global geopark in Thailand. The objective of this research is to study tourism potential by using weighted equations to provide recommendations and management guidelines for tourism planning and development. A total of 28 UNESCO geological sites, including marine tourist destinations, ecotourism and adventure tourist destinations, and learning tourist destinations, were examined. The findings revealed that there were three high-potential, 15 moderate-potential, and 10 low-potential tourist destinations. Therefore, three tourism management actions were proposed based on the potential assessment outcomes. At high-potential sites, the planning focused on the prevention of negative tourism impacts and the identification of their tourism carrying capacity. At moderate-potential sites, a system to provide information and knowledge to tourists, the preservation and preparation of amenities, and the prevention of negative tourism impacts were the main focuses. At low-potential sites, the development of amenities to promote accessibility, negative impact prevention, and a system to provide knowledge to tourists and facilitate destination management were highlighted. Thus, the tourism planning and development of the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark should prioritize negative tourism impact prevention, conservation, and preservation of the resource-based view (RBV).

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Acknowledgements

Support for this project was provided by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and Walailak University, Thailand. The authors gratefully acknowledge local communities and the official Stun Global Geopark, Satun Province, Thailand, for assistance in the field.

Funding

This research was funded by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) in 2019.

This research complies with the ethical standards, and the authors declare that there is no competing interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Walailak University, 222 Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand

    Onanong Cheablam & Pavit Tansakul

  2. School of Informatics, Walailak University, 222 Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand

    Budsarin Nantakat

  3. Faculty of Management Sciences, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, 1 Moo 4, Tha Ngio, Mueang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80280, Thailand

    Sirinan Pantaruk

Authors
  1. Onanong Cheablam
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  2. Pavit Tansakul
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  3. Budsarin Nantakat
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  4. Sirinan Pantaruk
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Contributions

Onanong Cheablam designed and authored this research, including the analysis and mapping. Pavit Tansakul and Sirinan Pantarak assisted in the data collection, surveys and interviews in the field, and also processing and compiling the information of the study on the characteristics and the significance of the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark and the Satun Geopark Museum and Tourism Operation. Budsarin Nantakat assisted in field surveys, especially in empirical data such as site characteristic photographs and prepared the illustration for research papers.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Onanong Cheablam.

Additional information

The original online version of this article was revised: Figure 3 has incorrect description on the vertical axis; the figure should have appeared as shown below.

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Cheablam, O., Tansakul, P., Nantakat, B. et al. Assessment of the Geotourism Resource Potential of the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark, Thailand. Geoheritage 13, 87 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00609-0

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