Guidelines for Community Potential Development Supporting Cultural Tourism at “Sa-Sookjai Market”-Thai-Mon Lifestyle in Don Krabueang Sub-District, Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

          The purposes of this research were: 1) to assess potential of community on the cultural tourism management at “Sa-Sookjai Market, Thai-Mon Lifestyle”, 2) to examine the behavior of tourists in “Sa-Sookjai Market, Thai-Mon Lifestyle”, and 3) to suggest the guidelines for community potential development supporting cultural tourism at “Sa-Sookjai Market, Thai-Mon Lifestyle”, Don Krabueang Sub-District, Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province. The mixed method was used in this research through in-depth interview, community survey, community potential evaluation, questionnaire and focus group. The sample group consisted of 2 groups of people with 50 sampling of the assistant abbot, the head of community, board of directors and members in market, community member participants, participants from Photharam Community Development Department, and 310 tourists by using accidental sampling to collect the data. Quantitative data analysis section, this research used descriptive statistics, which were; percentage, mean and standard deviation, and the content analysis was using with qualitative data.

          The research results found that: The potential in managing the cultural tourism of “Sa-Sookjai Market”, Thai-Mon Lifestyle in Don Krabueang community entirely was high level. The highest potential found in the cultural tourism management of the members in Don Krabueang community was art and culture, followed by physical characteristics, conservation of quality and environment, economy and society, and management respectively. According to the behavior of tourists who visited “Sa-Sookjai Market, Thai-Mon Lifestyle”; there were the purposes for relaxing and buying community products. They traveled the market with their friend and family by cars. In addition, the interest in Thai-Mon lifestyle activities and satisfaction level of tourists entirely were high. According to the guidelines for community potential development supporting cultural tourism at “Sa-Sookjai Market, Thai-Mon Lifestyle”, the researcher found that the community should explore and gather history, culture, lifestyle, wisdom and worthy for raising awareness and understanding the local people to conserve Thai-Mon culture. Moreover, it could help to reinforce the process of participation among community and Sub-district Administrative Organizations.