TIM MODEL: THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST TOURISM BASED ON LOWER NORTHEASTERN PROVINCIAL CLUSTER 1

Abstract

      This research aims to study the integration of Buddhist tourism in lower Northeastern provincial cluster 1 and to develop the integration of Buddhist tourism model in lower Northeastern provincial cluster 1. Mixed methodology was used in four provinces which are Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, and Surin. Questionnaires were collected from 400 participants through convenience sampling for quantitative research while in-depth and group interview techniques and focus group discussion were applied to 20 informants, including abbots, local philosophers, and officials from government organizations for qualitative research.
      The results revealed that the recent integration of Buddhist tourism in lower Northeastern provincial cluster 1 focused on historical tourism and agro-tourism. Tourists were interested in activities involving in historical tourism, cultural and traditional events, wellness tourism, and local communities. Their motivations were being aging people, studies for the truth of life, intellectual knowledge for personal balance, resting and new friendship, and well-known monks while they were also influenced by modern marketing, associates, media, soft power, and advertisements. Hence, TIM model integrated the process of historical tourism, community tourism, and wellness tourism.
Keywords : 1. Thai tourism 2. Buddhist tourism 3. Lower Northeastern Provincial Cluster 1