A Study of Ethnics Identity to Promote Tourism in SANUK Provincial

Abstract

  This participatory action research had three main objectives; 1) to study tribes’ contexts,
2) to examine the identity and explore formation of the identity and the invention of tribes’ cultural data system, 3) to analyze ways of value creation for the tribes’ identity, to develop a cultural village, and
to promote tourism. The population in the research was the Thai Yoi tribe in Sakon Nakhon Province,
the Thai Saak tribe in Nakhon Phanom Province, and the Thai Kha tribe in Mukdahan Province. The sample group used in the research consisted of 3 groups of 105 people, consisting of 10 community leaders from each tribe, 20 community members from each tribe, and five representatives from government agencies for each tribe. Research instruments for data collection were observations, in-depth interviews, focus group, SWOT analysis, mind-mapping, and interpretative analysis. The study results suggested that the tribal Ethnics of SANUK Provinces (Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdaharn)had beautiful landscapes surrounded by nature. They had their own cultural identities, which have been inherited from ancestors to descendants. Such inherited identities are included in traditions, beliefs, amusement, languages, handicrafts, and ways of life. Exchanging and learning forums for the tribal members were managed. The researchers also innovated the information related to the tribes’ identities as an electronic database and published media. Moreover, from the analysis of the potential of indigenous people’s identity, it was found that woven and basketry handicrafts were outstanding handicrafts of the Thai Yoi and the Thai Saak tribes. The wisdom of the root healer was the outstanding wisdom of the Thai Kha tribe.It can create added value as unique tourism products.  The physical characteristics, traditions, cultures, ways of life of the indigenous people can create added value as tourism activities that will impress tourists.