Potential and development approach for multicultural tourism in Samut Sakhon Province

บทคัดย่อ

This research aims to examine a body of knowledge related to ethnic diversity and the state of “multicultural society” in Samut Sakhon and to analyze the potential of multicultural tourist attractions, including to analyze an approach for the multicultural tourist attraction development in the area. The research was conducted by a mixed-method approach using qualitative research, data collection and documentary research, field study, interviews, and quantitative research. The data were analyzed and presented using an analytical description. The results showed that Samut Sakhon is a “multicultural society” with a diverse ethnic establishment, including the Thai, Chinese, Mon, and Lao Song. It has allowed the diversity of cultural areas which are capable of tourist attraction development, categorized in three directions. such as, cultural learning centers/cultural wisdom heritage, history and belief-related cultural areas and religion and belief-related cultural areas. According to the field survey, the potential analysis of multicultural tourist attractions through the interviews showed that the overall results were high in all aspects. The result from the questionnaire completed was also high. When considered individually, tourist attraction value was the highest, followed by the popularity of tourist attractions, and convenience of accessibility, respectively. The important approach for this consists of; (1) Establishing a joint department to achieve a visible improvement in multicultural tourism development; (2) Developing potential for multicultural tourist attraction systemically; (3) Managing tourism service-oriented towards network area; and (4) Developing a definitive and original multicultural tourist attraction to help increase the popularity.