THE MODEL OF BUDDHIST CULTURAL TOURISM MANAGEMENT OF MONASTERIES IN SAMUT SONGKHRAM PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives  of this article  were to study general conditions, the process of tourism management and the Buddhist cultural tourism management of monasteries in Samut Songkhram Province using the mixed research methods: the qualitative research collected data from 18 key informants by in-depth-interviewing and from 12 participants in focus group discussion and analyzed data by descriptive interpretation. The quantitative research collected data from 313 samples who were monks and people in Samut Songkhram Province, and analyzed data by descriptive statistics.   Findings were as follows: 1. Monasteries managed the tourism in good and beautiful orders. There were improvement and development of religious places economically and simply and education promotion for personnel, 2. Monks and people had opinions on the process of tourism managing, by overall, at high level. 3. The model of the Buddhist cultural tourism management was that there was  preserving and securing the  archaeological sites and maintain Thai identity. There were effective language skills and local culture development for personnel. There was Dhamma practice based tourism integrated with ancient places conservation, and integration the Thai way of life with other religions peacefully.