Public Administration for Tourism and the Roles of Local Governments in Tourism Management in Conserving, Restoring, and Developing Culture: Case Studies of Chiang Khan, Nan, Chiang Mai Municipalities

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate tourism as an instrument to converse the local culture. and the roles of local administrative organization as well as well as the participation of local people in tourism management. The findings revealed that tourism could support cultural conservation, restoration and development of culture-based tourist attractions. Moreover, it also raised the awareness of local people on the value and importance of culture that could bring about the pride in their local culture. The local administrative organizations in the form of municipalities and the local people also played an important role in tourism management for conserving, restoring and developing culture. The innovation in the field of tourism management based on municipal cultural conservation varied by locations. Chiang Khan Municipality used informal public administration while Nan Municipality used civic public administration, whereas Chiang Mai Municipality used formal public administration.