Adaptation Strategies for Cultural Tourism Management in the Extreme Climate: A Case Study of the Old Chinese Community, Buriram Province

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the impacts of extreme climate conditions (the global boiling era) and analyze adaptation strategies for cultural tourism management in the Thai-Chinese old town community of Buriram Province. A qualitative research methodology was employed, combining descriptive and narrative approaches. Data were collected through document analysis, participant and non-participant observations, and in-depth interviews with 18 key informants from three sectors: the public sector, the private sector, and community representatives, including the younger generation and local scholars. The data were analyzed using content and thematic analysis under the Input-Process-Output (IPO) conceptual framework. The findings revealed that extreme climate conditions impacted the community in two dimensions. Physically, accumulated heat and high humidity accelerated the deterioration of century-old wooden architecture, while tourists avoided outdoor activities during peak temperatures. Socially, the community faced an intergenerational cultural transmission crisis, as the younger generation perceived conservation work as volunteerism lacking economic stability, bringing some traditions, such as the Gui Qi ritual, to the verge of disappearance. Furthermore, the research unveiled an "Adaptation Paradox," wherein short-term heat mitigation strategies, such as the use of air conditioning and electric vehicles, inadvertently increased energy consumption, thereby exacerbating the climate crisis. However, the community possessed a unique strength in "Faith-Based Tourism." Spiritual motivations in rituals, such as the Pha Keng ceremony, enabled tourists to tolerate adverse weather conditions, reflecting a remarkable "Thermal Inelasticity" distinct to this type of tourism. The study proposes a four-pronged adaptation strategy model: 1) adapting rituals to be environmentally friendly, such as replacing traditional incense and candles with electric alternatives to reduce accumulated heat and PM2.5 pollution; 2) creating a digital database to preserve local wisdom and oral heritage at risk of being lost; 3) promoting night tourism alongside the installation of heat protection systems in historical buildings to simultaneously address economic and physical challenges; and 4) establishing stable career pathways for the younger generation as "cultural officers" to systematically resolve the transmission crisis. Policy recommendations emphasize the transition from passive conservation to proactive, technology-integrated management as a driving mechanism for sustainable cultural tourism in the climate crisis era.