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90
The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011
The development and design concept of eco-cultural tourism
in Wiangkhuk county, Nongkhai province
Warunee Wang1
1Faculty of architecture, Khon kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002
Abstract: Owing to natural and geographical conditions, the
development has been hindered in the northeast of Thailand.
Currently, although tourism, culture and other resources are not
being put to good use, they still have potentiality of developing.
Thus, by analyzing the feasibility of developing eco-cultural
tourism resources in Nongkhai, Waingkhuk County is chosen as
case study. Eco-cultural tourism zones is planned and created in
order to promote community development in the region, bringing
out more cultural and ecological resources to use. The operation
of tourism zone is integrated flexibly; to adhere to the concept
of “green, leisure, community participation and participatory
tourism”. This is an alternative way to solve the problem of poverty
in the northeast region of Thailand, also to interpret and validate
self-sufficiency economic practice.
Keywords : Cultural tourism; eco-tourism; tourism planning;
sustainable development
Introduction From the perspective of protecting the environment,
sustainable development is to base on the cultural development,
to create for the rational systems of social developing, and
to ensure the whole society stability. As a major agricultural
community, the northeast of Thailand becomes a bottleneck of
economic and the peasants here have been lingering in poor
shadow. Even so, the region still has potential for further
development. Currently, tourism, cultural and other resources are
not well utilized and organized in many areas. The local are not
aware of how to create their own living environment, to combine
the living space itself with the available resources around them,
and to seek a new path of economic and cultural development.
Therefore, the study proposes a concept of rural community
planning base on available resources in the chosen community.
Materials and methods In this study, Wiangkhuk County in Amphur Maung
Nongkhai of Nongkhai province, Thailand, was selected as a
case study due to its rich in cultural resources, favorable climate
and geographical position along the Mekong River. Wiangkhuk
locates 11 kilometers in the northwest from Nongkhai’s downtown.
The community consists of 8 villages. Five of them locate along
Mekong River. Two villages locate on the other sides of the 2-lane
roads while one village is far away from the rest. From the local
government statistic in 2009, Wiangkhuk has 1,555 households
with 6,246 household populations; population density is 376.7/
km2.
In order to investigate public’s opinion on community
development and eco-cultural tourism, the author has adopted
an unstructured interview and random sampling method to hand
out questionnaires for 150 households of 8 villages in February,
2010 and hand out 100 questionnaires for tourists during the
Rocket Festival (Boon Bangfai) in May, 2010. All the data were
collected by qualitative methodology.
The findings were presented in descriptive analysis.
Under the eco-cultural tourism approach and local resources,
the idea from data analysis is used for planning the tourism zone
and its facilities of Wiangkhuk, Nongkhai and a nearby region
as a whole.
1. Problems of Nongkhai tourism Nongkhai, as a border province between Thailand and
Laos, has been an open window to the outside in the northeast
of Thailand. Many oversea tourists are accustomed to enter into
Thailand from Nongkhai, which bring a lot of business
opportunities to the local, especially for tourism industry.
Usually when the tourists stop by Nongkhai city, they will visit some
local villages, temples and folk cultural sites. Although the
natural geographical and cultural environment has nature-
endowed advantage in Nongkhai, but in the whole region,
especially rural areas along Mekong River, tourism value are
not fully developed. Many tourists have become the passerby
or do not spend much time in Nongkhai. From questionnaires
analysis, tourism problems in Nongkhai are as follows:
Firstly, Nongkhai lacks in tourism facilities that rich in
local characteristics, known as tourism brand. When the province
is introduced to foreigners, Sala Kaew Koo has often been seen
as one of local representatives full of distinctive attractions. But,
in fact, it is only the huge concrete artificial Stone Park and not
on behalf of the local history and culture. Thus it cannot be seen
as a successful tourist attraction sight.
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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011
When asking local residents in Wiangkhuk “Do you
agree that Nongkhai’s local tourism sight lack of local feature “,
56.7% of residents disagree. Tourists were asked “Do you like
the distinctive local tourism sight, or popular tourism sight”, 52%
of people preferred the distinctive local tourism sight. Obviously,
it is very important for local residents and tourists to create
tourism activities filled with local identity.
Secondly, eco-cultural tourism resources including
landscape are idle. Eco-tourism is only limited to a few
activities. Therefore, when asked tourists, “What are leisure
activities you like the most in Nongkhai?” 64% like dabbling in
Mekong River shore, 34% like the Vietnamese cuisine. Since
eco-cultural tourism projects are still not developed by the local,
but in their agricultural activities are concerned, activities they may
offer for tourists are: harvest fresh fruits and vegetables (43.3%),
manufacture of bamboo products (40.7%). In the author’s view,
these activities have the potential to develop.
Thirdly, cultural tourism is mainly limited to the place
that inactive landscapes display, such as famous temples. Those
dynamic, participatory activities about folk culture have not been
developed accordingly, such as Boon Bangfai and Loy Krathong.
Precisely these festivals can be arranged as a tourism project to
attract more tourists. Local residents and foreign tourists, mostly
like to participate in such activities, not only for leisure, but also
to experience the essence of folk culture, which cannot receive
in general festival.
Fourthly, cultural eco-tourism places and activities
are lack of integration and linkage in the whole. Insufficiency of
overall planning has become a chronic illness to local tourism
development. If general plan and guidelines of tourism
development can not be formulated, operation and improvement
of facilities, economic and cultural benefits can not get a win-win
situation during its developing.
2. Concept of cultural eco- tourism development In planning Nongkhai tourism development, the
main approach should based on “green, leisure, community
participation and tourist’s experience”. The general idea should
reflect three aspects: functional diversification, investment
diversification, and development of industry, as a goal to achieve
economic, social and ecological benefits, and to develop modern
eco-cultural tourism which is the integration of Buddhist culture,
folk culture, ecological agriculture and tourism.
2.1. The premise of the eco-cultural tourism
development is to combine the overall plan with environmental
improvement of rural community in Nongkhai.
In cultural eco-tourism development, environmental
improvement of rural communities should be taken into
account. By focusing on the concept of self-sufficient economic [1],
mobilize the enthusiasm of the local; promote self-reliant spirit by
community participation under the help of experts. According
to the planning, the living environment is reconstructed, living
facilities is improved, green living condition and tourism
environment is to be provided.
2. 2 Emphasis on brining out characteristic of local
culture.
With the growth of knowledge and experience of
tourists in demand, people concern about cultural tourism
products increase and cultural enjoyment of tourists become one
of the requirements. Since eco-cultural tourism is a special kind
of tourism in Nongkhai, it should bring the unique local culture,
lifestyle and customs to further develop. In operation and
administration, should focus on integrating rural management,
interpretative services, experienced activities and folk cultural
activities, which show its unique positioning in the layout of
sightseeing and recreation, and then compose of rural leisure
and tourism areas with beautiful scenery and rich cultural
connotations.
2.3. Through integrating and combining of the
transport facilities, cultural eco-tourism may form a large
network in Nongkhai.
If the traffic network is improved, tourists can freely
travel within the whole area. It will benefit to the integration of
regional resources. Firstly, road network is established with a
rational layout, optimized structure and multiple functions. The
accessibility of the road is further enhanced in order to ensure
the effectively connection between urban and rural, and to link
up a variety ways of travel. Secondly, accessibility to all villages’
landscape and sightseeing is to be guaranteed through improving
the situation of rural road and optimizing travel routes. The aim
is to maximize the sharing of rural cultural tourism resources
and extend the stay of tourists.
2.4. To highlight the duality of the cultural eco-tourism
that serve local residents and tourists.
Generally, the design and practice of tourism projects
prioritize to serve tourist. In many tourist areas, tourism is an
independent part to the local’s daily life. This kind of tourism is
for a commercial purpose; people who are involved are workers,
which is currently the most popular way of eco-tourism operation.
In the author’s opinion, cultural eco-tourism should
combined with the improvement of community environment to
ensure better development, and cultural eco-tourism project
springs from the local’s daily life. In other words, the residents
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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011
turn their real eco-life culture, including Buddhist culture and
folk culture into an unintentional show. With the concept every
local become parts of tourist culture to stimulate local people
passion to develop their own unique culture, and to offer visitors
an authentic cultural scene.
3. The selection of case study and design of tourism zone Available resources of cultural and eco-tourism are
very rich in Nongkhai which are distributed along the main line
of Mekong River. Tourism development has ideally advantage
in favorable climate and geographical position. If we can plan
feasibly and make integration, the tourism will have good
prospects in the region.
3.1 The design of cultural eco-tourism zone along
Mekong River
Aim of the design:
According to the special geographical location of
Wiangkhuk in Nongkhai, it is an important part of tourism planning
to create eco-tourism zone along the river. The aim is to make full
use of the Mekong water resources, shore resources and natural
beauty of both sides, and highlight the rural characteristics and
fish-hunting culture, in order to enhance the function of leisure
and tourist resort.
Planning content:
• Shoal scenery: In hot season of every year, a shoal
will appear in Mekong River near Moo 1st of Wiangkhuk. It can
turn to a temporary leisure waterfront, including riverside dining,
experience-based fishing activities and dabbling. The method
and practice is flexible due to the condition of the shoal along
Mekong River that will disappear during rainy season.
• Oxygen and sport forest: Choose the area between
Moo 5th and Moo 8th where trees and vegetation environment
is well preserved, to construct the leisure park, complete facilities
such as traditional-style pavilion, hammocks, temporary picnic
area, where tourists may feel close to nature. Holiday leisure
zone is built which the combination of leisure sports and
shadiness of forest landscape.
• Cultural and ecological villages: To present the
ecological feature of natural and social environment of the local,
such as in Moo 5th, many fish ponds in this village can be found.
“Tangible” and “intangible” cultural heritage about the fisheries
are protected by the residents voluntarily, such as the use of
fishing nets and equipment, fisherman skills, the skill of weaving
nets and local wisdom for craftsman. The people, property and
the environment is being in the inherent ecological relationship,
cultural factors is kept more intact , such as the natural
landscape, daily necessities customs, and etc.
3.2. The design of cultural eco-tourism zone for temple
Aim of the design:
Temple is a component of tourism planning in the
region. In Wingkhuk, each village has at least one temple.
Temple is a unique charm of Thai culture. Many temples in
Wingkhuk are magnificent and beautifully decorated and reflect
building technology in contemporary. Moreover Wiangkhuk has
another charm of the quiet, simplicity, ecology and environmental
protection of forest temple. Some festivals and ceremonies hold
in the temple are important resources to enjoy also. Therefore,
temples culture should mainly integrate in the design. Village
temples and forest temple are planned on tourist routes. So, the
rich temple culture in eco-tourism zone is created.
Planning content:
• Theppol Temple (วัดเทพพล) is famous for historical
relics, including a city pillar in the ancient time and Lao-Lanna
pagodas. Many trees inside the temple form beautiful scenery.
However, the overall functional layout should be adjusted in order
to improve the temple environment and strengthen its importance
for local history.
• Yod Gaew Temple (วัดยอดแก้ว) and Saosuwan
Temple (วดัสาวสวุรรณ): Well-known for historical background and
relics, such as Buddhist statues, structure of the old monastery.
The two temples cover a small area and having a few trees.
Renovation and functional improvement of environment should
be done to increase historical and cultural charm.
• Temples along the main road: The architectural style
of these temples is varied but lack of softscape like perennial tree,
and more of big concrete pavement in common. The layout is
also not reasonable. The design aims to increase the softscape
ratio and rationally plan to increase visual and functional quality
to the public.
• Other temples: They are built with contemporary
style and material. These temples are smaller in scale but can
be linked to the nearby temple by overall planning and design.
Even though each temple has its own characteristics, but in
generally reflects the style of rural temple at the present time.
3.3 The design of folk culture tourism projects
Aim of the design:
The “reconstruction” of local culture is a necessary
part of tourism industry in the region. Folk culture resources
that full of local identity can integrate with cultural tourism.
According to the distribution of time (folk and Buddhist festivals)
and space (landscape, forest and Mekong river), combined with
the functional area of rural community planning, public activities
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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011
can take place to serve the local and tourist at the same time.
Folklore will be recurred in the specific space and time of rural
communities. Moreover, the theme of design is a combination of
real life of local residents that express the richness and diversity
of local culture, not as the performance.
Planning content:
• Loy Krathong: On full moon night in December of
Thai calendar every year, beauty pageant contest will be hold
in the lake of Moo 5th as well as folk music and dance. Beside
general activities, the area to sell and display local snacks, food,
and product should be add, which would attract more participant.
• Rocket Festival: In June of each year the villages
hold a parade for rocket festival that highlighting the unique folk
culture of the Northeast.
• Dragon Boat Races: Dragon Boat Festival is often
held at in November. The teams of dragon boat gather on the
river bank and take part in the race while visitors experience the
fun of dragon boat racing from two sides of the river bank.
3.4 The design of tourism zone for arts and crafts
display
Aim of the design
It is given prominence to make use of folk art resources
in tourism operation. Visitors can learn about the local arts and
crafts, including bamboo weaving, pottery and woodcarving.
Combined with arts and crafts production, the project of
participatory tourism is developed. Visitors can learn to make it by
themselves and experience its charm; meanwhile, can increase
the attractiveness of tourism in the region.
Planning content:
According to the One Tambon One Product (OTOP)
strategy, display area of bamboo weaving, and other arts and
crafts manufacturing, can located along the street or suitable
area in the villages. By doing so, villagers can work for making a
living and for exhibit at the same time. The participatory activity
for tourists will locate in display area.
• Display and sale area of bamboo, straw weaving:
Display content including the collection of raw materials, material
selection, processing, product weaving, as well as custom and
utensil related to bamboo weaving.
• Display and sale area of hand-woven clothes: Display
content including the source of silk, selection, dyeing, the type
of loom, weaving technology, pattern design, finished product,
emphasizing on the customer experience.
• Display and sale area of clay craft: including the
collection, selection, processing of the clay, pottery tools, pottery
art and demonstrations, customer experience, product display.
3.5. The design of eco-agriculture Park
Aim of the design:
Many agricultural products in Thailand are full of local
character. Many foreign tourists like to learn about Thai rice or
other non-staple food product. Therefore, the eco-agriculture park
project should starts from tourists’ interest and combines with
living pattern of the local farmers. The exhibition detail should
relate to fruit, grain and other agricultural products in commu-
nity. So that visitors can understand the ecology and agriculture
background of the local. Peasants can prepare some traditional
picking tools and fishing equipment for the tourists, teach them
how to take care of the trees and experience the fun of picking
and harvest agricultural product. The activities not only increase
the local income, but also expand the influence of agricultural
products to the public.
Planning content:
Specific area are planned, including jasmine
rice-growing and processing areas; picking and display areas of
seasonal fruit; green corn cultivation areas and maize products
processing zones; green featured vegetables planting areas and
picking areas; the sale and experienced area of local cuisine as
well as traditional way to preserve food and agriculture product.
Eco-agriculture Park is not only the main experienced
activities that tourists can enjoy the tropical agriculture living,
but also agricultural products are promoted. Farmers can grow,
cultivate and manage them in daily life. By the time tourists come
to visit, they may provide necessary reception services, such
as to introduce species of plants, teach visitors how to raise the
crops, harvest or pick, tell legends story of some crops, and help
visitors cooking agricultural products. The eco-agriculture park
can also serve as social practice and learning base for local
students, which will increase their love to the hometown.
4. Flexibility and existing problem of operating tourism zone
4.1 Flexible integration and operation of tourism zone
The research plans and designs local tourism
resources from the integration aspect, bases on daily lives of
the local and emphasizes on designing tourism landscape zone
under self-sufficiency economic philosophy. The flexibility during
the process of tourism zone maybe as follow:
From the aspect of time, the tourism zone is a
non-simultaneous. Compared with other tourism zone, folk culture
and eco-tourism zone emphasizes depend on time attributes;
need a specific time each year to carry out tourism activities.
Geographically, the tourism zone is overlapped, for
example, the tourism zone of arts and crafts shows may be
coincided with the folk culture tourism zone. In this case, their
activities can hold on the island of Moo 5th.
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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011
Formally, the type of permanent and temporary tourism
project are co-existing. When tourism zones are built, such as
temple and eco-agricultural park are all permanent ones. But
folk art exhibition and folk culture tourism zone are temporary;
the content of exhibition may change or adjust each year.
Generally speaking, tourists can enjoy the rural
landscapes with different theme in different period of times
while local villagers can continue their normal life on agricultural
producing.
4.2 The problem to carrying out the tourism zone
Although the development and utilization of eco-cultural
tourism resource will benefit for improving the life quality of
farmers, rural sustainable development and the long-term
effectiveness of environmental protection, but the practice of
tourism zones will face some difficulties, as follows:
Firstly, by time, implementation of planning and
developing of tourism resources can not finished in a short period
of time. They are put into effect by steps and stages according
to schedule. Therefore a detailed plan in each step is required.
Secondly, whether the projects are mainly developed
by enterprise, government, or the villagers, it should be discussed
furthermore in practice.
Thirdly, the planning maybe cause the conflicts with
local believe. For example, Boon bang Fai has held on the road
between Yod Gaew temple and Saosuwan temple every year.
The road itself has less than five meters wide and the temple
court is small, which is not fully support the performing of the
folk dances and activities. The local government intends to move
the whole festival to more appropriate area, but local residents
oppose due to the belief in the local legend. The conflict between
the local and government is unfavorable for eco-cultural tourism
development. Therefore, tourism project and activities should
harmonious with folk belief and local custom.
Conclusion Through integrating and designing Wingkhuk tourism
zones, including culture project, such as Buddhist folk festivals,
folk handicrafts exhibition ; static cultural landscape, such as
local Buddhist temples and relics, eco-cultural tourism resources
along Mekong river and experienced projects of eco-agriculture,
the region will be full of rich unique cultural and ecological
tourism resources.
In fact, the study is an attempt for rural sustainable
development planning. Through planning and design, the life
of farmers should be improved because the planning aims to
strengthen local economic and culture development. Of course,
this approach is not a simple superposition about rural cultural
resources, but adheres to the concept of complementary advan-
tages and mutual benefit, form the effectiveness of 1 plus 1 > 2.
Through carrying out the project of eco-tourism, the
farmers can voluntarily participate, transform and build their
living space, while the government does not have to spend many
resources or money to support them. The way of practice achieve
the sustainable development indeed, also interpret and validate
self-sufficiency economic theory of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Re-thinking and practice of developing rural eco-cultural tourism
resources, provides an alternative path to change the existence
of rural community in Northeast Thailand.
Reference[1] Sathirathai, S., Priyanut, P. Sufficiency Economy and a
Healthy Community, (Conference paper), 3rd IUCN World
Conservation Congress, Bangkok: Thailand. 2004.