COMMUNITY POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CULTURAL CREATIVE TOURISM IN CULTURALLY PROTECTED AREAS OF KAREN ETHNIC COMMUNITY IN UTHAI THANI PROVINCE COMMUNITY CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This research article aims to 1) Study the potential of communities for cultural creative tourism in the Karen ethnic cultural protected area. 2) Study the guidelines for strengthening the community capacity for cultural creative tourism in the Karen ethnic cultural protected area. and 3) Develop and enhance the grassroots economy for cultural creative tourism in the Karen ethnic cultural protected area. This qualitative research was conducted with 25 key informants: local administrators and members of local organizations, district and sub-district cultural councils, teachers, local leaders, village committee members, community leaders, community scholars, occupational groups, youth groups, and representatives of relevant agencies. The research instruments used included interviews, observation forms, brainstorming, focus group discussions, and content analysis. The results revealed that: 1) The community potential for cultural creative tourism is strong. Karen communities are located in conservation areas under the protected area policy, emphasizing the uniqueness of ethnic lifestyles, spiritual leaders, traditions, and culture, language, clothing, food, and community products; and 2) The guidelines for strengthening the potential for cultural creative tourism include resource management systems, readiness in organizing tourism activities and facilities, community-based learning activities, workshops, tour guide development, route and program design, and cultural creative tourism manuals. Developing a creative tourism mechanism that emphasizes participation, experiential learning, and cooperation with relevant organizations, and 3) Developing and upgrading the grassroots economy, adding value to community products to support tourism by creating community products, promoting careers, income, and creating value from creative tourism activities based on the unique culture of the community, with unique forms, symbols, and products made by the people in the community.