Study of cultural tourism potential of temples in Nong Tak Ya Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

     This research article studies the cultural tourism potential of temples in Nong Tak Ya Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province. The objective is to 1) study the tourism potential of temples according to the criteria for considering the potential of tourist attractions and 2) study tourists' opinions on the cultural tourism potential of temples in Nong Tak Ya Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province, according to the components of cultural tourism. This research used a mixed-methods approach: The qualitative methods, interviews were conducted with local stakeholders, 3 peoples per temple including: the abbot or monk, community leaders, and people around the temple. The structured interviews were conducted and data were analyzed using content analysis, and the quantitative method uses a questionnaire, with a reliability of .873, data were collected from 384 tourists visiting temples in Nong Tak Ya Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province, by accidental sampling. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation.
     The results were as follows:
     1. Analysis of tourism potential of temples in Nong Tak Ya Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province according to the criteria for considering the potential of 5 tourist attractions or 5As from 13 temples, it was found that only 4 temples have the potential according to the criteria. Including Wat Nong Song Hong Phasukaram, a temple that is ready to accommodate tourists and has tourism potential in terms of attractions, tourist activities, accessibility, various facilities, and accommodation. Bhavanabaram Meditation Center has potential to be developed into a tourist attraction. There is architecture of beliefs that is a tourist attraction. There are various facilities such as buildings, restrooms, and tourist activities such as visiting, taking pictures, and admiring the beauty of the architecture. Wat Nong Tak Ya Aphaiyasad, a temple that is ready in every aspect, whether it is tourist activities for tourists, convenience in traveling, facilities, and souvenirs such as steamed dumplings that can be made into regular products of the tourist attraction, and Wat Nong Takrong has a tourist attraction, which is a white church that tourists passing by must get off to take pictures. There are facilities such as bathrooms and sufficient parking spaces, but there are no other activities to support tourists besides the activities of buddhist adornment.
     2. Tourist opinions on the cultural tourism potential of temples in Nong Tak Ya Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province from the components of cultural tourism was found at a high level overall, when considering each aspect was found that tourism, tourism business, and community participation had the highest opinions, as for tourist awareness, environmental awareness, and marketing, opinions were at a high level.

Article history: Received 26 September 2024
                            Revised 16 December 2024
                            Accepted 17 December 2024
                            SIMILARITY INDEX = 14.09 %