การพัฒนาการท่องเที่ยวเชิงสร้างสรรค์เพื่อการอนุรักษ์ต่อยอด วัฒนธรรมลาวครั่ง บ้านกุดจอก จังหวัดชัยนาท A MODEL OF CREATIVE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION OF LAO KLANG IN KUD JOK, CHINAT PROVINCE.

Abstract

This research aimed to study Lao Klang ethnic group in terms of the cultural heritage, the ways to preserve cultures, the tourism potential, the local inhabitants’ participation in cultural preservation and tourism behaviors, to explore Thai tourists’ needs for a creative tourism, and to propose a model of creative tourism development for cultural preservation of Lao Klang in Kud Jok, Chinat province.

For the data accumulation, ten key informants including five community leaders and five local product leaders were deeply interviewed, and the content analysis were employed to analyze the data.  Moreover, four hundred tourists were required to fill out the questionnaire.  Also, sixty tourists participating in a DIY activity were determined to fill out the satisfaction evaluation form.  The data from the questionnaires were analyzed with descriptive statistical methods: Mean, Percentage, Frequency, and Standard Deviation.

The findings showed that Lao Klang in Kud Jok had outstanding and unique ethnical identities.  Also, its social heritages including people, institutions, wisdoms and culture were very interesting.  The most important factor in Lao Klang’s cultural preservation was the people’s cooperation in planning and operating a tourism system, getting benefits, and distributing incomes to the community as much as possible.  Regarding the potential for the tourism management, it was found that Lao Klang community had the potential for economy, society, and environment.  For the tourism behaviors, it was indicated that most of the tourists travelled to Lao Klang community because they would like to join and study its traditions and cultures.  Moreover, most of them were the organized mass tourists.

With regard to a model of creative tourism development for cultural preservation of Lao Klang in Kud Jok, Chinat province,  it was shown that its process consisted of four steps: 1) Finding a community unique identity, 2) Improving local wisdoms to a creative development, 3) Creating tourists’ activities and 4) Implementing the creative tourism to benefit the community and the tourists. 

Keywords: Creative Tourism, Cultural Preservation, A Model of Creative Tourism Development