Communication through Identity and Existence of Ethnic Groups along the Border of Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study are as follows: 1) to investigate the context and communication guidelines of ethnic groups along the bordering area; 2) to explore the identity and existence of ethnic groups along the bordering area; and 3) to promote the community’s participative process in managing communication through the identity characteristics that strengthen the preservation of culture and set guidelines for promoting community tourism along the border of Ratchaburi Province. It is a mixed-methods research, with data analysis conducted using frequency and percentage values. Content analysis was performed using mean and standard deviation.

The results of the study revealed that 1) The community context has an effect on the communication methods of the ethnic groups along the bordering area. This may be due to the fact that in the past, ethnic groups had high reverence for ghosts and the forces of nature. Even though religion has spread into the community, ghosts still play a significant role in the livelihood and well-being of the group in the present day; 2) Identity that is related to narratives and their way of life affects the group’s existence along the bordering area. These identities are expressed through four groups: commonly known identities, identities that have now disappeared, identities that require a special occasion, and identities that adapt to the current daily life. Tourists also recognize a sense of identity obtained through tourist attractions, culture and traditions, as well as tourism activities and local products; and 3) The existence of ethnic groups requires a participatory process between the various ethnic groups in order to achieve assimilation and acceptance amongst themselves. Additionally, cooperation with government agencies also helps to achieve acceptance, and bargaining power to demand various basic rights; cooperation with higher education institutions can also help to eulogize and restore local wisdom, and create income from natural resources in a balanced and sustainable way; collaboration with schools results in creating unity among the youth and cherishing their own ethnicity; and cooperation with temples results in establishing a bond between religion and traditional beliefs, thus creating an area-specific identity and leading toward the determination of guidelines for promoting community tourism along the bordering area of Ratchaburi Province in the future.