Conclusion

66 Table 25: Ranking score of attributes

Attributes

Segment1 HEMT

Segment2 HEDT

Segment3 LET

% Rank % Rank % Rank

CATTLE 6.90 7 7.99 7 12.44 3

ELEPHANT 20.84 1 16.78 2 10.06 4

SEEING 7.17 6 2.82 10 9.56 5

DANCE 14.67 3 7.86 8 8.47 6

CANOE 10.10 5 8.43 6 4.15 9

FISH 18.70 2 9.18 4 5.45 8

HCAR 3.75 9 8.76 5 17.43 2

SBIKE 6.45 8 18.61 1 2.84 10

SCAR 0.59 10 3.40 9 22.04 1

PRICE 10.83 4 16.17 3 7.56 7

67 Third, the majority of both domestic and international visitors are under 30 years of age with very few older visitors in PPWS. In addition, young tourists seem more interested in visiting remote areas and taking part in the activities listed above than do older visitors. A wide range of affordable basic foodstuffs and other essential daily items, as well as plenty of inexpensive food and accommodation would be required for young tourists.

Fourth, as was expected, it was observed that tourists often want to combine several different activities in their packages. This information reveals that many combinations should be designed in order to meet the needs of all the tourists visiting PPWS. The government can cooperate with tour operators or NGOs to set up priority areas, design activities, and promote package tours for small and medium-sized tourist groups. This recommendation of smaller groups is derived from both the nature of activities (which are not easily undertaken by larger groups) as well as from a commitment to sustainability and to maintain the vitality of the area.

Fifth, it was observed that most of the international respondents are highly-educated visitors from European countries or other Western countries including Australia, America or Canada. The study indicates that they appear to spend more time and money than domestic visitors. Based on this information it would be a good investment to obtain both English- and French-speaking guides to cater for the diverse range of visitors. In addition, domestic tourists have also demonstrated a high WTP for guides. Therefore the training of professional guides for domestic visitors is also an important part of establishing sustainable ecotourism in PPWS.

Sixth, it was also observed that international tourists display the strongest preference for observing large water birds and wild cattle, alongside elephant riding, canoeing and fishing, visit and communication, and dancing. Domestic tourists, meanwhile, want to join safari camps with motorbikes, observe large water birds and wild cattle, visit and communication, and go canoeing and fishing. These activities would act as a suitable foundation for establishing new package tours.

Seven, the majority of both domestic and international visitors are under 30 years old: there were not many older visitors in PPWS. In addition, young tourists seem more interested in visiting remote areas and taking part in the activities listed

68 above than do older visitors. A wide range of affordable basic foodstuffs and other essential daily items, as well as plenty of inexpensive food and accommodations, would be required for young tourists.

Eighth, as expected, it was observed that, tourists often want to combine several different activities in their packages. This information can be used to establish different package tours for them. The government can cooperate with tour operators or NGOs to set up priority areas, design activities and promote package tours for small and medium-sized tourist groups, because such activities are not easily undertaken by larger groups.

Tenth, it was observed that most of the international respondents are highly-educated visitors from European countries, or from Australia, America and Canada, who appear to spend more time and money than domestic visitors. Thus English- and French-speaking guides would be required for these tourists. In addition, domestic tourists have a high WTP for guides. Therefore, training of professional guides is an important part of establishing sustainable ecotourism.

Finally, this study provides policy makers with a range of useful information concerning the rate of entrance fee of tourists in protected areas; a fee which could be used for maintaining biodiversity conservation of this area. The study also outlines the preferences of typical packages for both domestic and international tourists.

This information is very important for ecotourism in PPWS, and the implementation of policy is now urgently required. The implementation should, however, focus on the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, while taking into account the well-being of the local community. This is because poorly-regulated tourism and economic exploitation of vulnerable communities will destroy the environmental and cultural assets of these communities. These issues therefore need to be discussed in the next stage of our research.

Thus, this research will provide an opportunity for community development based upon intact and healthy ecosystems; provide room for the traditional use particularly from home stay activities with local people and provide longer-term jobs for local communities around and inside the sanctuary such as environment and cultural interpreters, backcountry guides, researchers, and craftspeople.

69 Some domestic tourists feel difficult to fill in the questionnaire related to the choice modeling questions for a number of reasons. They feel difficult to answer because some words are quite new for them unless we take time to explain the meaning of the key words and the purposes of the study and they also have to spend time to read through the questionnaire. They are not also completely trust the way in which the information provided to be used. International visitors are familiar with the choice format, but some of them did not know how this information provided to be used. So, in order to conduct choice experiment research in Cambodia, first questions should avoid theoretical concepts and should be specific terminology need to be used.

Secondly, it will be necessary for us to explain the purpose and the meaning of key words using picture, poster or other materials that make them easy to understand and to choose. Finally, it is very important to provide the interviewee with reasonable time to develop their responses.

70

4.2 ESTIMATING THE BENEFITS OF FRESH WATER