Meanings and changes of Klong Dan Floating market in Sating Phra Peninsular , Songkhla

Abstract

This paper aimed to study the meaning and the changes of the Klong Dan floating markets in Sathing Phra peninsular. The qualitative research was applied as a research methodology, including field study, observation and in-depth interview which were conducted for the data collection. The key informants were 50 people comprised with savants, local leaders, villagers, entrepreneurs and tourists. The three different generations were considered for a criteria; grandparents, parents and grandchild generation. The meaning and the nostalgia concepts were applied in this study in order to analyze the changes of meaning of Klong Dan. Then, the data were synthesized and projected in descriptive analysis method. The results showed that the Klong Dan floating market can be seen as the southern peasants’ community which was developed after the 2^nd world war. It also had long been developed after the immigrating of Chinese people to the Sathing Phra peninsular. After that it became a well-known commercial junction so, it was divided into three eras for the explanation. First, the prosperous era that represented the significant relationship between people and the maritime route of commerce of Songkhla and Nakhonsithammarat provinces. The meaning of Klong Dan was a commercial junction. The second era was the declining era which showed the growing important of the local road no.408 while, the river way of transport was deteriorated and it became the end of the maritime route. Therefore, meaning of Klong Dan was an abandoned community. The third era was the rehabilitation and commoditization of Klong Dan for tourism. The meaning of Klong Dan had changed to the retro-market and communities’ study center. Thus, Klong Dan floating market eventually represented a commoditization of market in respond to tourist’s taste of nostalgic tourism in a consumerism acquisition.