The Approaches to Manage Buddhist Tourism: Temples in the Thonburi Area

Abstract

Buddhist tourism is a type of tourism aimed for tourists to obtain various experiences which most importantly improves the quality of life and mind, and is also a motivation to pilgrimage under the aspects of religions and beliefs. Temples in the Thonburi area have archaic origins and beauty besides their historic values. Some are appropriate due to the environment, with the locations being waterside, as well as the sanctity of deities since ancient times. Nevertheless, numerous temples are still considerably unknown to tourists, i.e., Wat Kamphangbangchak, Wat Tha Phra, Wat Sangagai Worawiharn, Wat Phonimit Satitmahasimaram, Wat Ratcha Orasaram Ratchoworawiharn, Wat Thong Sala Ngam, Wat Waramattaya Pantasararam (Wat Khunchan), and Wat Nakprok. These aforementioned temples have the potential of Buddhist tourism promotion in each of the four elements: incentives, access to tourist attractions, safety, and promotion. All of this is for the purposes of effectively inheriting the tradition and culture, being renowned in their local areas, and becoming the method to improve, develop and publicize the temples into Buddhist tourist attractions in the future.