GUIDELINES FOR CONSERVATION AND CREATIVE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: UTHAI THANI PROVINCE, THAILAND

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the value of the cultural and natural tourism resources of Uthai Thani Province; 2) to study the potential of tourist attractions in Uthai Thani Province to support the promotion of creative tourism; 3) to study creative tourism activities that are suitable for the tourism resources of Uthai Thani province; and 4) to study applying the concept of Creative Tourism to enhance the value of cultural and natural tourism resources of Uthai Thani province and tourism development towards sustainability. This research employed the qualitative approach, utilizing documentary research, site surveys, participation observations, and in-depth interviews with 40 key informants consisting of the government sector, private sector, community sector, and tourists. SWOT analysis and content analysis based on the concept of creative tourism theories were employed to analyze the data.

The result found that the variety of natural and cultural resources, the enchanting lifestyle and people of Uthai Thani Province, and the safety of travel are the strengths of the province's tourism potential. The lack of effective promotion strategies and management plans for developing tourism in Uthai Thani, as well as a lack of tourism professionals and expertise in tourism marketing among locals or some local businesses, are weaknesses in the province's tourism potential. There are four communities in Uthai Thani Province that have the potential to develop creative tourism activities. The four communities are: 1) Ban Rong Nam Kaeng Community, Mueang District; 2) Ban Pa Thung Ancient Style Woven Cloth Center, Ban Rai District; 3) Ban Sanum, Ban Rai District; and 4) Ban Tha Pho, Nongkhayang District. Cultural capital and local wisdom that has the potential to be developed into creative tourism activities include 1) local food (geographical indication products and ethnic food); 2) handicrafts (woven fabrics); and 3) folk songs (performances of local traditional festivals). The three types of local wisdom exist in the four communities of Uthai Thani Province.

Making local food, making handicrafts, and learning folk songs are all examples of learning by doing activities that can be developed into guidelines for the development of enhancing local wisdom as creative tourism activities for tourists. Local cooking activities should be conducted in homestays and creative tourism activities specifically targeted at groups of active tourists. Collaboration between accommodation and community to offer cooking activities for tourists in a timely manner that they can participate in. The community can manage activities for tourists through coordination from the accommodation. An ideal craft activity for tourists is making small and simple handicrafts. Entrepreneurs also need activity design and investment in activity creation. The community must study activities suitable for tourists and design learning points to do activities in the form of various learning bases. Creative tourism activities related to handicrafts require good planning and organization. Developing creative tourism activities related to learning folk songs, communities must develop folk songs to be contemporary in order to attract more tourists. The community must develop activities that attract the new generation to attention in learning folk songs or activities that are valuable for learning along with preserving folk songs.

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