Guidelines for Community-Based Tourism Development by Cultural Tourism Management: A Case Study of Muen Wai Community, Mueang, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

            The research entitled "Guidelines For Community-Based Tourism Development by Cultural Tourism Management: A Case Study of Muen Wai Community, Mueang, Nakhon Ratchasima Province" has its purposes as 1) to study the general information of Muen Wai Community and 2) to study the guidelines for community-based tourism development by cultural tourism management. Population and samples are 3 groups as 1) knowledgeable people and leaders who lived in the research site's community, 2) local government agencies directly related to community-based tourism development in the research site and, 3) central government agencies directly related to community-based tourism development in the research site. The research tool is an in-depth interview from the sample group and participatory observation from the sample group of knowledgeable people and leaders who lived in the research site.

            The results reveal that Muen Wai is an ancient community with its long-lasting history, the relationship among people is in form of a kinship system and Wat (Buddhist temple) is the center of all people and activities in the community. The leader and people of this community place importance on a 300-year-old chapel as a cultural tourism resource. This chapel exhibits a good old background of invaluable art and architectural construction for narrating of history of the community. The guidelines for community-based tourism development by cultural tourism management at Muen Wai are 1) Project on learning and tourism information center for learning and public relation of the 300-year-old chapel at Wat Muen Wai, 2) Project on development of bike lane link for Muen Wai community-based tourism and cultural tourism source of  Kanom Chin Ban Pradok (Pradok Village fresh noodles made of fermented rice eaten with curry and vegetables) in accordance with local community cultural foundation and 3) Project on the promotion of cultural tourism of the community by increasing more distribution channels and sale promotion as well as creating of an application named "Muen Wai Community Tourism APP" on wireless communication devices.