The Use of Traditional and Cultural based for Sustainable local Development : A Case of Development Management Guidelines of the Traditional Boat Racing in Nan,Thailand

Abstract

This article arose from a preliminary study of a doctoral study entitled “The Development of Community Innovation for the Creative Health Promotion: A case of the traditional boat racing in Nan, Thailand. The objectives of the study were: 1) to adjust the thinking process of the people who socially participated creative traditional boat racing; 2) to develop management guidelines of the traditional boat racing in community creatively and with community participation. The 40 sample included the leaders of traditional boat racing, boat racing crews and cheer leaders. Each informant had at least 4 years of experience in boat racing. The sample were selected purposively from 64 villages. Data were collected using open3ended interviews, seven focus-group discussions, and in3depth interviews done with 20 sample. The analysis of data done using descriptive and content analyses. The results are as follows:
The management of learning process with participation of all three sample groups resulted in the modifi cation of thinking process of the informants in three content areas: 1) The goal of fi erce competition to gaining a victory and passing down community tradition and culture to later generations. 2) The setting up and development of youth’s boat racing crew members were done in order to prepare them for accepting of such boat racing in their community, and 3) A key element in managing the traditional boat racing was to reduce further crisis by focusing on human elements. For development strategies of management guidelines of traditional boat racing in the community, the study found: 1) Building recognition and joint awareness leading to participation in the management of the traditional and creative boat racing and resolving the crisis occurred. 2) Building a joint agreement leading to a joint commitment of mental, physical and social support; and 3) Setting up a joint operation plan based on community needs.
As for suggestions, authority or agencies at local level should provide opportunity to various social groups to be responsible for problem solving directly and have a role in managing local culture; carrying out learning activities and enhancing social energy based on real community needs, diversity of contextual environment, and development process of community culture for good health using traditional and cultural base.