Development of a Manual for Promoting Community-based Cultural Tourism of Lao-Ngaew Community, Thong-EN Sub-District, In-Buri District, Singburi Province

Abstract

    The objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive manual for promoting community-based cultural tourism within the Lao-Ngaew Thong-En community employing a participatory action research. The target groups were 24 participants, including 16 Lao-Ngaew Thong-En community members, 4 representatives from the government and public organizations, and 4 Thepsatri Rajabhat University lecturers. Data collection tools were participatory observation, interviews, and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed by content analysis. After the process, a manual for promoting the community-based cultural tourism of the Lao-Ngaew Thong-En community was created, and it can be applied to other communities efficiently.

     The results showed that there were 4 steps to create the manual for promoting community-based cultural tourism. They included: 1. Step 1: creating engagement in the community by creating knowledge and understanding, forming identity, and creating community participation, designing and developing community-based cultural tourism activities; 2. Step 2: developing potential for local tourism by developing community committees for tourism community, creating storytellers, welcome shows, cultural souvenir products, local foods, community products, creating learning media about the local identity, culture, and wisdom, and community landscape; 3. Step 3: promoting tourism marketing channels, by creating publications of brochures for public relations, designing, and producing promotional media for tourism marketing by linking tourism marketing with the public business sectors, and 4. Step 4: managing communication to create recognition by organizing activities for community tourism.