Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 438-449).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Kansas, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-161).

This thesis examines the contribution made by "alternative" tourism towards community development in the provinces of Phuket, Phangnga, and Krabi in southern Thailand. Aside from providing novel, adventurous, and presumably authentic travel experiences, "alternative" tourism promotes forms of community development characterized by equitable distribution of resources, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. Alongside conventional, mass tourism development in southern Thailand, nature-based "alternative" travel activities such as sea kayaking and jungle trekking have grown increasingly popular among foreign tourists and have emerged as measures of diversification within a slowly stagnating regional tourist trade. This study assesses "alternative" tourism along the lines of the tourism industry, tourist, and host perspectives, and addresses three key issues, or themes: "alternative" tourism as a theoretical and practical "alternative" to conventional, mass tourism; the role played by authenticity and ethical concern in distinguishing "alternative travellers" from mass tourists; and "alternative" tourism's contribution to community-based economic, social, and environmental development in southern Thailand. The results of this study are based upon several types of data, including selfadministered surveys, analysis of statistical and other documentary sources, field observations, and interviews with tourists, government officials, company owners, and Thais working in the tourism industry. Three central findings emerge from this research. First, "alternative" tourism in southern Thailand shares many structural and conceptual links with the existing mass tourism industry. Rather than signalling a true departure from conventional, packaged tourism, "alternative" tourism constitutes a regenerative niche in Phuket's mass tourism industry. Second, discrepant expectations of, and levels of desire for, authenticity serve to differentiate categories of "alternative" tourists, many of whom display insensitive behaviour and place inappropriate demands on their Thai hosts. Third, certain forms of "alternative" tourism, such as "mass ecotourism," foster equitable community development, while others, such as backpacking and adventure travel, remain limited as engines of economic development. In addition to discussing theoretical and policy implications, the thesis concludes with a localized model of "alternative" tourism in southern Thailand. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

This study was designed to develop a provincial science museum model for expanding science museums to the provinces in Thailand.

No description available.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The work presented in this thesis focuses on trichinellosis, a food-borne zoonosis caused by a nematode of the genus Trichinella, in Thailand. The main objectives were to characterise human trichinellosis, determine its endemic foci and characterise factors influencing infection in humans and in the pig, which is an important domestic animal reservoir host of Trichinella. The investigations comprised (i) a retrospective review to characterise human trichinellosis in Thailand, (ii) a survey to characterise factors influencing trichinellosis in pigs and (iii) quantitative and qualitative studies to characterise the factors influencing trichinellosis in humans. An analysis of Thai national trichinellosis surveillance data between 1981 and 2008 highlighted the five northernmost provinces in the Northern Region as particularly affected with trichinellosis. The incidence of human trichinellosis in Thailand decreased significantly during this period. Until recently, trichinellosis was found to cluster significantly in these provinces. Domestic pigs and wild boar appeared to be the major sources of infection. Field studies focused on populations in Nan Province in the Northern Region, where specific foci of human trichinellosis have been observed. A survey of pig production in both lowland and highland areas in five districts of Nan Province found small-scale pig production to be predominant. Production and management practices differed significantly between lowland and highland areas. In the highland areas, pig production was mainly for the owners’ own use. The holdings were poorly managed compared with those in lowland areas. A survey of trichinellosis seroprevalence in these five districts showed the disease to be associated with scavenging pigs (OR = 2.96, p = 0.02) and older pigs (OR = 1.02, p = 0.02). Seroprevalence was estimated with 95% confidence and was in the range 0 - 0.36% in lowland areas and 0.46 - 1.48% in highland areas. A pig acquired from a Thai-Laotian border market was among the sero-positive pigs identified in the survey. A survey for trichinellosis in wild animals (n = 97), mostly wild boar (n = 53; 55%), using the digestion method did not detect Trichinella in any of the animals screened. A retrospective gender-matched and age-matched case-control study in four trichinellosis-affected communities during 2003 – 2006 showed that consumption of raw wild boar (OR = 2.66, p = 0.005) and consumption of raw meat at social gatherings (OR = 3.89, p = 0.008) were risk factors, and the belief that alcohol can kill the parasite in raw meat (OR = 0.36, p = 0.03) was a protective factor associated with individual trichinellosis cases. Qualitative studies on communities’ knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to trichinellosis in 12 villages indicated that the communities received information about food-borne diseases. However, the practice of raw food consumption continued because of individual taste preferences and the belief that consuming raw food infrequently and in small amounts lessened the risk of eating infected meat. In terms of pig management, although there had been improvements in the practices within Nan Province, with the majority of pigs kept in pens, due to insufficient pig feed and poor survival rates of piglets in inappropriately designed pens, free-range scavenging still occurred. For control of trichinellosis to be improved, the factors identified as influencing its maintenance in the study areas must be communicated to the local administrative organizations and veterinary and public health offices. This will enable them to construct and implement guidelines for good management practices in pig farms in the highland areas. Additionally, there is a need to specify a requirement for Trichinella-free certification of pigs and meat products sold at the border markets. There is also a requirement for the continued education of the general public regarding the safe consumption of adequately-cooked meat.

published_or_final_version / Comparative Asian Studies / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Comparative Asian Studies / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Comparative Asian Studies / Master / Master of Arts