Development of a Learning Bank and Local Way of Life to Promote the Cultural Identity of the Mon Community in Lat Krabang District, Bangkok

Abstract

The purposes of this research article were 1) to study the learning conditions and local ways of life to promote the cultural identity of the Mon Community; 2) to analyze the success factors of the learning bank and local ways of life to promote the cultural identity of the Mon Community; and 3) to propose a model for developing the learning bank and local ways of life to promote the cultural identity of the Mon Community in Lat Krabang District, Bangkok. The research employed a mixed methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection. The research instruments included questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The population consisted of tourists visiting Lat Krabang District (the exact number of whom could not be determined), with a sample size of 400 individuals, and 20 key informants including community leaders, local experts, local entrepreneurs, and government officials, selected using purposive sampling. The research findings revealed that 1) learning and local ways of life in the Mon community played a significant role in promoting cultural identity. Tourist attractions in the area had high potential, excelling in culture, lifestyle, history, historical sites, artifacts, as well as important traditions and festivals such as Songkran traditions, the procession of the swan pillar and centipede flag, and daily life such as clothing and local food; 2) factors contributing to the success of the learning bank and local ways of life included content, media demand, and public relations activities, all at a high level, especially the demand for information to participate in tourism activities related to the learning Bank and local ways of life; 3) the model for developing the learning bank and local ways of life to promote the cultural identity of the Mon Community should encourage group formation and networking among the government, private sector, and community to carry out cultural conservation activities such as establishing markets to promote local products, preserving traditional Mon clothing (e.g. a traditional shawl (Sabai) for women and the Thai loincloth (Pha Khao Ma) for men), managing the environment appropriately, promoting the use of the language and transmission of traditional culture, and presenting it through diverse and accessible public relations media.