GUIDELINES FOR CREATIVE TOURISM MANAGEMENT BASED ON THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF BAN PUEK SUBDISTRICT, MUEANG DISTRICT, CHONBURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study the cultural capital of the Ban Puek Subdistrict community, Mueang District, Chonburi Province; 2) evaluate the potential for managing creative community tourism in Ban Puek Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chonburi Province; and 3) propose a management approach for creative tourism under the cultural capital of Ban Puek Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chonburi Province. This qualitative research study of Ban Puek Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chonburi Province consisted of: 1) in-depth interviews that were conducted with community leaders from the community tourism enterprise committee of Ban Puek Subdistrict. The study included a total of 15 local people involved in tourism, as well as 25 tourists; 2) A focus group meeting of 10 academics and tourism developers was involved in the research; and 3) the research also employed participatory observation through a purposive sampling method, and substantive analysis was used to analyze the data. The results were as follows: 1) The cultural capital of Ban Puek Subdistrict revealed that there are both important historical sites and artifacts within Wat Mai Ketu Ngam. The house features a weaving shed, provides food and snacks, and supports various occupations, such as weaving, rice farming, palm sugar production, gardening, and planting the "Ta Ya Mom" plant. 2) Ban Puk Subdistrict has the potential to manage creative community tourism by leveraging its cultural capital to foster tourism activities. It will also be developed into products for tourists to sell, helping tourists to travel to the community in a convenient way with various paths to choose from. The community provides facilities to accommodate the tourists, such as restrooms, a resting area, a tourist information center, and food and beverage outlets. The community also has homestays managed by the community tourism enterprise group of Ban Puek Subdistrict. Community tourism activities are diverse, such as visiting ancient temples over 200 years old, listening to history, watching a weaving demonstration, observing the profession of fresh oyster shucking, making tapioca starch, crafting it with woven fabrics, making desserts using local ingredients, and folding a lotus flower. The strategy for managing creative tourism within the Ban Puek community's cultural capital involves enhancing the community's tourism potential, fostering community engagement in creative tourism management, and promoting community tourism marketing.