Creative Area Development of Pai Watershed Community in Wiang Nuea Sub-district, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province

Abstract

This qualitative research aims to study the development of creative areas in Pai Watershedand and to present a creative area development model in the Pai Watershed. Research area is at Tal Jed Ton Village, Wiang Nuea Sub-district, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province. The 28 key informants are purposively selected, including the community leader group, the tourism entrepreneur group, and government officer group. This research is conducted by studying documents, in-depth interview, and focus group discussion. The data analysis is used by content analysis, and then summarized and presented in descriptive writing.

The results show that 1) the development of the creative areas in Pai Watershed, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province is where the prehistoric settlers has located. In the historical period, the present Pai area is the former important city of Lanna. The area is abundant watershed forest. A Pai river is the main one being attractive to many ethnic groups to settle down for living. Pai watershed is composed of the diversities of ethnic cultural capital and natural resources. The process of developing creative areas for communities in the Pai Watershed is operated on 4 stages. Step 1 is to study and analyze contextual information. Step 2 is to select activities in creative area development. Step 3 is to perform the creative area development with the communal participation of people. Step 4 is to extend the activities for creative area development. 2) The model of the creative area development of Pai Watershed community were: (1) The creative area development having done by local wisdom, (2) The creative area development through conservation and restoration of natural resources, and (3) The creative area development is done with local economy. The body of knowledge of this research shows that the creative area development of Pai Watershed community based on knowledge and abilities of community people integrated with social capital, cultural capital, natural resource capital and the potential of community leader through the activities by people participation.