The Development of Creative Tourism in Red Lotus Lake, Kumphawapi District, Udon Thani Province

Abstract

The objective of this research was aimed to examine the creative tourism resources and creative tourism development approach of the Red Lotus Sea, Chiang Haew Community, Kumpawapi District, Udornthani Province.  It is a mixed method research with the quantitative method, using the questionnaire as the research instrument.  The sample included a total of 400 Thai tourists. The convenience sampling were adopted. The qualitative method implemented the in-depth interview enquiring a total of 10 representatives of government agencies and local people. The instrument included the semi-structured interview and the participatory observation. In data analysis, the SWOT analysis techniques were adopted. The results showed that 1) the creative tourism resources  included  the Red Lotus Sea Festival, Chiang Haew Ferry, fish trapping, sugar production,  Thepharak Sanctuary,  sacred shrines in Wat Somsri Sa-ad, and Vessantara merit-making, 2) the development approach for the Red Lotus Sea creative tourism included six areas; (1) diverse tourist attraction development  such as  fish trapping   activity, a way of living and sugar production, etc.,  (2) increase in  channels  and access to tourist information, for examples, tourism websites,  or biking activity , (3) increase in the facilities such as accommodations, restaurants, etc., (4) organizing  various tourism activities such as exposure of the experience to the local way of life,  customs and culture, inter-ferry travel,  and the examination of sugar production , etc. (5) tourism services, such as increase in the information desks , introduction to tourism, and souvenir selling, etc. (6) tourism development with the integration of public, private, tourist and community partnerships, as well as the establishment of tourism network among six ferries and the nearby tourist attractions.