Buddhist Tourism Management Model Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

     This mixed-methods research aims to 1) study the Buddhist tourism management of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, 2) apply the participation process in organizing Buddhist tourism of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, and 3) create a Buddhist tourism management model for Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The study involved 39 informants, comprising 5 experts in history and culture, 4 tourism entrepreneurs, and 30 stakeholders and community representatives, who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and satisfaction assessments. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive analysis and data classification methods, while quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, mean, and standard deviation statistics.
     The research findings revealed that 1) Buddhist tourism management of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province consists of 4 components and problem conditions: tourism personnel, location and environment, budget, and community participation aspects, 2) the participation process for Buddhist tourism management represents an integration of government, private, and public sectors, utilizing individual expertise and capabilities to create the Buddhist tourism management model, and 3) The Buddhist tourism management model for Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, known as the VOTS model, comprises value enhancement, organization, three leaders, and standards for inspection and control, which received the highest appropriateness evaluation.