Abstract:
Skateboarding, a lifestyle sport, has become a prominent feature in urban
tourism due to its popularity. In 2019, during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in
Thailand, skateboarding emerged as a trend in the country. Skateboard tourism, can
be promoted as a form of sustainable tourism in urban areas to achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) for sustainable tourism. This research aims were to study
the skateboard tourism situation in urban areas of Bangkok and to identify strategies
for promoting sustainable skateboarding tourism in the urban area. This research is a
qualitative study that employed documentary research, semi-structured interviews
with five skateboard influencers, experts, and skateboard tourists, and interpreted data
through content analysis and an observation form used for conducting skateboarding
surveys in renowned urban skate spots in Bangkok. The result found that; the situation
of skateboard tourism in Bangkok boomed between late 2019 and 2021 but rapidly
dropped during the 3rd lockdown due to COVID-19 in mid-2021. However,
nowadays, it has been slowly recovering since early 2023. The skateboard tourism
potentiality in Bangkok, Thailand: the skateboard tourism in the Bangkok area has a
strong potential to develop into sustainable recreation tourism. The guidelines for
promoting sustainable recreation tourism in urban areas of Bangkok with skateboard
tourism were as follows: Promoting the importance of recreation through skateboard
tourism, Using SDGs to promote sustainability in skateboard tourism, Promoting
safety and ensuring a positive safety image for skateboard tourism, Promoting the use
of skateboards for tourism in urban areas to reduce carbon emissions in tourism,
Supporting the skateboard community in urban areas, Supporting events or activities
related to skateboard tourism, Integration with Local Culture and Heritage.
Skateboarding tourism, can be promoted as a form of sustainable tourism to achieve
the SDGs for sustainable tourism while enhancing the quality of life as a recreation
activity.
