Community tourism : Sap Champa arceological site, Lop Buri, Thailand

![CDATA[This paper presents the community perspectives on heritage conservation and tourism development at Sap Champa Archaeological Site (SCAS) in Lop Buri Province, Thailand. The study focuses on the concerns of the respondents (n=217) about the importance of the site in relation to their way of life as well as the threats and benefits if the site were to be fully developed as a major cultural heritage tourist destination. Using a 5-point Likert scale, the respondents believed that SCAS should be (a) conserved for the future generations (average Likert scale of 4.91, S.D ± 0.35), (b) promoted as a new tourist attraction in the Province (average Likert scale of 4.85, S.D ± 0.42), and (c) simultaneously managed for conservation and tourism (average Likert scale of 4.82, S.D ± 0.38). The perceived values of SCAS as a heritage and tourism asset are as follows: economic (49.38%); conservation/cultural (26.85%), educational (12.67%), and social (11.1%). The respondents believed that the adverse impact of anthropogenic activities including tourism and land-use conflicts should be addressed. The data collected from the questionnaire survey and interviews provide valuable insights into sound and sustainable tourism management. Taking into account the concerns of the local community without compromising the archaeological integrity of the cultural site and the quality of tourist experience is crucial in sustainable tourism management.]]