Integrated Spatial Management Innovation for Promoting Sustainable Tourism in Bang Ban District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

This article aimed to 1) examine the potential of tourism resources in Bang Ban District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; 2) investigate area-based management approaches among relevant stakeholders in the district; and 3) propose an integrated area-based management innovation to promote sustainable tourism development in Bang Ban District. A mixed-methods research design was employed, guided by concepts of innovation, management, integration, and community-based tourism. The study area was Bang Ban District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The sample consisted of 380 participants drawn purposively from local government agencies, the private sector, and community representatives. Data collection instruments included interviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed and synthesized using triangulation techniques, the 6C framework, and basic statistical analysis. The findings reveal that: 1) Bang Ban District possesses strong tourism resource potential rooted in its cultural capital and multi-sectoral participation, which can enhance community quality of life; 2) the existing area-based management approach is appropriate, relying on tourism resources and community strength as key driving mechanisms through participatory processes; and 3) an integrated area-based management innovation, incorporating collaboration among four sectors through the SICF Model, can effectively drive sustainable tourism development in the district. The study highlights that cultural capital and community ways of life serve as the core foundation for tourism development when systematically integrated with area-based management practices.