THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELIGIOUS PRECINCT MANAGEMENT FOR A CULTURAL TOURISM PROMOTION IN MONASTERIES OF RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research were: 1. To study the current situation, 2. To study the influencing factors, and 3. To present the development of the management of religious places in monasteries to be cultural tourism attractions in Ratchaburi Province, conducted by the mixed-methods. The qualitative research, data were collected by interviewing 20 key informants and quantitative research using a questionnaire to collect data from 365 monks in Ratchaburi Province. The data were analyzed by percentages, means, and standard deviations, regression analysis, and then conducting focus group discussions with 10 qualified participants. The descriptive content interpretation was used to summarize the essay.

The research results were found that 1. The current situation of the management of religious sites in monasteries to be cultural tourism attractions in Ratchaburi Province were found that: 1. Strengths; monasteries in Ratchaburi Province were managed by the abbots with systems and fire insurance. 2. Weaknesses; lack of qualified personnel to take care of religious places in monasteries. Financial insufficiency led to construction or renovation problems. 3. Opportunities; agencies or communities participated in management decision-making. 4. Obstacles; changing environment. 2. Factors affecting the management of Religious places in monasteries as cultural tourism destinations in Ratchaburi Province were found that the 4 M’s main management factors and Sappaya 4 factors affected the development of the management of religious places in monasteries as cultural tourism destinations in Ratchaburi Province, by entering all predictor variables into the equation, the R value was obtained=.627, and the R2 value was .792a. 3. The presentation of the development of the management of religious places in monasteries as cultural tourism destinations in Ratchaburi Province was found that: 1. Maintenance; the monasteries had religious places conservation project. 2. Protection; there were training activities to provide knowledge and create personnel to help support the care of religious places. 3. Enhancing stability; disseminating knowledge about conservation to the public. 4. Utilization; creating a model for the utilization of religious places in monasteris as cultural tourism destinations.