THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROBLEM OF TRENDS IN CHANGE IN CANAL-SIDE COMMUNITIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM POTENTIAL ALONG THE SOMTHAWIN CANAL-SIDE, MUEANG DISTRICT, MAHA SARAKHAM PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to study: 1) The level of problem of trends in change  along the Somthawin canal-side communities,  2) The level of development of tourism potential along the Somthawin canal-side, 3) The relationship between the problem of trends in change in the canal-side communities and the development of tourism potential along the  Somthawin canal-side, 4) To study the suggestions for problem solving and development of the Somthawin canal area, Maha Sarakham Municipality. It was the quantitative research. The research instrument was a questionnaire Using a sample group of 200 general public in the Somthawin canal-side area, with an unknown exact population size. The statistical methods used for data analysis were frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear multiple regression analysis using the Enter method, with statistical significance level of .05. ansd content categorization, frequency distribution, and descriptive analysis.

            The research findings were as follows: 1) The level of problem of trends in change  along the Somthawin canal-side communities, was overall at a high level. 2) The level of development of tourism potential along the Somthawin canal-side, was overall at a high level. 3) The predictive power of the relationship between the problem of trend in change along the canal-side community and the development of the potential of tourism along the Somthawin canal-side overall found that the relationship was at a moderate level of .640 (R = .640), with statistical significance level at the .05. These could explain the dependent variable was 40.90 percent (R².409). F equal to 22.268, at statistically significant level of .05. 4) The suggestions should be made to improve water quality, continuous water system management such as wastewater treatment, providing clean water from other sources to help drain wastewater, and installing grease traps for households.