The Development of Tourist Attractions to Enhance the Grassroots Economy Through Community Participation Based on the Buddhist Peaceful Means of Hatra Sub-district Community, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to analyze contexts, problems, needs, and Buddhist peaceful means conducive to the development of tourist attractions in order to enhance the grassroots economy of Hantra Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; and 2) to improve the development process of tourist attractions in order to enhance the grassroots economy through community participation based on the Buddhist peaceful means of Hantra Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The study employed a participatory action research method. The tools used were an in-depth interview form and a participatory action package to develop tourist attractions systematically based on PAOR cycle. The key informants were 27 persons of key informants and 15 local researchers. The obtained data were analyzed by inductive method and summarized by descriptive method.

From the study, the following results are found:

1)  Hantra Subdistrict in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province possesses unique community resources and local wisdom. The following are problems and weaknesses that should be addressed: Raising awareness of co-ownership, developing tourist attractions that can attract tourists and organizing activities, and increasing public relations for tourist attractions. The Buddhist peaceful means conducive to the development of tourist attractions in order to enhance the grassroots economy include Sārānīyadhamma (states of conciliation) together with Aparihāniyadhamma (conditions of welfare). The development results should be evaluated by Bhāvanā (four developments).

2) The development of tourist attractions to enhance the grassroots economy through community participation based on the Buddhist peaceful means of Hantra Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, is carried out using a participatory action package by following a 9-round PAOR cycle. This process is divided into 3 phases: upstream by analyzing the plans in order to develop the tourist attractions in Hantra Subdistrict; midstream by implementing according to the shared action plan; and downstream by adapting the action plan through awakening. A body of knowledge gained is ‘we are together model’.