Building Public Partnership and Participation in the Management of the Rak-Nee Thi Ban Pao Project for Cultural Heritage Preservation and the Promotion of Cultural Tourism in Ban Pao Subdistrict, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the mechanisms of collaboration and public participation among stakeholders in the “Rak Nee Project” in Ban Pao, which is dedicated to preserving local culture and promoting cultural tourism in Ban Pao Subdistrict, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province. It also seeks to identify the key factors contributing to the project’s success and propose development guidelines that align with the community’s cultural context and tourism potential. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining both quantitative and qualitative research. Data were collected from 75 participants, including administrators, government officials, local leaders, private sector representatives, and local residents, using questionnaires analyzed with statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The qualitative component involved in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 32 key informants, and data were analyzed using descriptive content interpretation.

The results indicated that the overall project performance was rated at a very high level (=4.58, S.D.=0.17). All stakeholder sectors played a prominent role in driving the project forward. Key factors contributing to the project’s success included an efficient operational structure, strong stakeholder collaboration, adequate budgetary support, and concrete program management. The independent variables could explain up to 87% of the project’s success. The study proposed six strategic development guidelines: (1) integrating local culture and resources into tourism activity design; (2) strengthening collaboration among government, civil society, and the private sector; (3) developing effective communication mechanisms; (4) ensuring transparent and accountable planning; (5) promoting environmentally friendly creative tourism; and (6) enhancing local leadership capacity through training and network building. The findings underscore the crucial role of stakeholder collaboration in driving sustainable cultural tourism. Such collaboration serves as a vital mechanism for preserving cultural heritage while fostering community empowerment and long-term resilience.