Skateboarding Recreation Tourism: Promoting Sustainable Recreation Tourism in Urban Areas of Bangkok, Thailand

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.