A Study of Potentiality of Religious and Meditation Tourism for Development Buddhist Tourism Travel and Activities: A case of Khon kaen and Mahasarakham Province

Abstract

This research aims to study of Potentiality of Religious and Meditation Tourism and Development Buddhist Tourism Travel and Activities: A case of Khon kaen and Mahasarakham Province. The research was completed by applying mixed research methods: quantitative and qualitative. The survey design with the use of questionnaire was employed to collect information from 400 samples with simple sampling. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. For qualitative research, an analysis was conducted by using data attended from focus-group meeting with 30 participants, by using in-depth interviews and participatory observation.

The study found that there are 14 religious tourist sites in Khon kaen and Mahasarakham Provinces; and can be synthesized in 9 groups, that is, 1) Dhamma puzzle paintings and local wisdom sculptures 2) Museums 3) Phra That or Stupa and pagoda 4) Sacred Buddha images 5) Wooden Buddha images 6) Buddhism learning 7) Sim E-san (Buddha halls) 8) Ancient pagodas (Ku) and 9) Revered Buddhist monks. There are 8 outstanding centers of Buddhist meditation practice for tourism, namely, 1) Wat Po 2) Wat Mogkhawanaram 3) Wat Pa Dhamma-uttayan 4) Wat Pa saeng-arun 5) Wat Khunphromdamri 6) Weluwan Buddhist meditation practice center 7) Dhammasuwanna Buddhist meditation practice center and 8) Phrathat Nadoon; and can be synthesized 4 concepts: 1) “Yub-Phong”, 2) “Bud-dho”, 3) “Movement” and 4) “Goenka. For the religious tourist destination with high potential that is Phramahathat Kaen Nakhon and Phrathat Nadoon. The high potential of Buddhist meditation tourism is Wat Pho, Wat kunphromdumri and Phrathat Nadoon. Moreover, the important Buddhist tourist routes found that there are 2 routes in the province and two routes connecting the province. There are 3 major tourist activities groups: Phrathat and Chedi, Holy Buddha images and the Buddhist meditation practice.