GUIDELINES IN COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM MANAGEMENT AIMING TO FEEL THE PRESENCE OF ETHNICITY THROUGH CULTURAL WAY OF LIFE OF MON 12-MONTH TRADITION IN SANGKHLABURI DISTRICT KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

             The objectives of this research were to studying the origin of Mon ethnicity, Sangkhlaburi district, Kanchanaburi province, studying the community - based tourism management aiming to feel the presence of ethnicity through cultural way of life of Mon 12 - Month tradition in Sangkhlaburi district, Kanchanaburi province, and creating guidelines in tourism management in the community. In this qualitative research, Sangkhlaburi district was selected as the target area due to the possession of outstanding traditions and ways of life of Mon people. The sample consisted of 27 key informants whose duties and more than 3 years of experiences mainly related to the way of life of Mon community in Sangkhlaburi district chosen by purposive sampling including local scholars, community leaders, and tourism entrepreneurs. Significant data were collected using an in-depth interview, informal interview, and participant observation, and all obtained data were analyzed using content analysis. Additionally, a focus group was conducted by using a set of questions related to the way of life, cultural way, and guidelines in community-based tourism management. The findings pointed out that 1) Mon migration to Sangkhlaburi district was caused by conflicts between Burmese troops and ethnic minorities, and being led by Luangpho Uttama, the faith in Buddhism among Mon people was centered and created the Mon 12 - Month tradition in 2496 BE, 2) several traditions allowed community participation as for promoting community - based tourism including Kuan Khaothip tradition and Songkran festival, and 3) some guidelines in community - based tourism aiming to feel the presence of ethnicity should be managed by creating developmental and promotional plans of Mon 12 - Month tradition, linking the community - based tourism to major tourist attractions, conserving and inheriting traditions considered to be at risk of becoming endangered, and implementing new normal practices after COVID-19 pandemic to tourism industry.