Identity of Community: Concept and Management for Sustainable Tourism by Buddhist Peaceful Means of Chiangkhan Municipality, Lei Province

Abstract

This qualitative research by an in-depth interview, with 3 objectives,i.e. (1)to study the concepts of community identity and management for community tourism; (2) to study the problem and management for tourism in the community of Chiangkhan Municipality; and (3) to present the ways to manage for sustainable tourism by the identity of Community and Buddhist peaceful means. 

The study is found that the identity of community is a part of managing sustainable tourism that the people in the community should cooperate in preserving their cultures, traditions and ways of lives or it could be said that the cultures or identity of the community should be well preserved. In doing so, there must be a mutual community management for living together with the practice of Saraniyadhamma, one of Buddhist peaceful means that will help community members join the same direction and concept for one identity of the community.  This will lead to such sustainable Community Tourism.

In view of the problem and management for tourism in the community of Chiangkhan Municipality, it is found that Chiangkhan starts to have problem with the people from the outside community causing changes of the identity of community.  This forces every department in the community to take part in making management plans for sustainable community tourism until there is a concrete community charter or practice of Chiangkhan Municipality.

For the ‘how to’ in managing for sustainable tourism by the identity of Chiangkhan Community, it is found that the Community has managed by Buddhist peaceful means of Saraniyadhamma which is the based Dhamma of remembrance, sharing benefits, and acceptance to one another.  By this Buddhist peaceful means, the identity of the Community can be preserved as the source of sustainable tourism.