Potential Analysis of Creative Community-Based Tourism in The First Sunrise Area, Ubon Ratchathani Province
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Abstract
This qualitative research aimed to 1) study the potential of creative community-based tourism in the First Sunrise area of Ubon Ratchathani Province, and 2) analyze the potential of creative community-based tourism in the First Sunrise area of Ubon Ratchathani Province in accordance with the needs of creative tourists. The target group consisted of thirty key stakeholders relevant to the development of community-based creative tourism, including two community leaders, ten local residents, ten local entrepreneurs, and eight government officials. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, and data were collected through observation and in-depth interviews.
The findings revealed that the community’s potential for creative tourism development can be categorized into twelve dimensions: cultural capital, human resources, spatial potential, management, participation, self-reliance, creative tourism activities, tourism routes, souvenir products, accommodation management, community storytellers, and problem-solving and overcoming obstacles. The analysis highlighted that Mueang Saeng Raek community possesses distinctive cultural capital, particularly cotton cultivation along the Mekong River and traditional hand-weaving, which reflect historical continuity, organic practices, and inherited natural dyeing wisdom. Furthermore, the existence of more than thirty homestays allows visitors to experience rural riverside lifestyles intimately. Simultaneously, fishing, bamboo weaving, and local cuisine based on Mekong fish represent unique local identities that enhance the community’s attractiveness and provide a strong foundation for the sustainable development of creative tourism.
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