Crowding norms in Thai national parks : a case study of Nam Tok Phrew National Park, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate crowding norms among Thai recreationists in high use front country waterfall settings in Nam Tok Phrew National Park, Thailand. The theoretical perspective of the research is grounded in the normative approach which emphasises that social norms can be used to identify standards of quality in recreation management. Previous normative research, mainly in the USA, has focused on norm theory, developing techniques to measure norms and on how norms differ in different settings. However, the nature of recreational norms in Thai recreation settings has not yet been addressed. Hence, the specific objectives of this thesis are: (i) to determine whether or not Thai visitors at Nam Tok Phrew National Park hold crowding norms; and if so (ii) to investigate the nature of these norms.

Following Manning, Lime, Freimund, and Pitt (1996), crowding norms were investigated by asking respondents at two study sites to evaluate a series of 16 use-level images which represented use-levels ranging from zero to 180 visitors. A total of 470 respondents were surveyed between March and April 2000.

Results showed that crowding norms varied between visitors to the two Park waterfalls under study. The normative standard at Phrew Waterfall was 72 people, compared with 62 at Traug Nong Waterfall. Moreover, 30 per cent of Phrew visitors experienced use-levels higher than the group crowding norm, compared with six per cent at Traug Nong. Information of this sort can be used to formulate management standards in line with current social carrying capacity frameworks such as Limits of Acceptable Change and its variants.

This thesis suggests that the normative approach is a robust measure to identify standards of quality. Some areas within Nam Tok Phrew National Park contained use-levels which exceeded the normative standard. This implies that management action may be needed to ensure the continued quality of visitors' experience.