The Development of Creative Cultural Tourism Activity in Suan Dusit and Relevant Area

Abstract

The main objective of this research on the cultural tourism potential in Suan Dusit and Relevant Area and the surrounding area is to study the foundation potential of the historical-cultural tourist attraction area, the heritage and cultural resources, and assess the cultural tourism potential to provide guidance on how to enhance cultural tourism potential in Suan Dusit and Relevant Area and the surrounding area. Theresearch is conducted both qualitative and quantitative combined, employing both tangible and intangible cultural resource assessment methods, tourism potential assessment method together with a quantitative research, surveying approach, observation, structured interviews, group conversations and 5A analysis such as the tourism attractions, accessibility, accommodations, facilities and tourist attraction management to select the tourist attractions and identify the cultural attraction.

                   The study reveals that the cultural tourist attractions in Suan Dusit and RelevantArea and the surrounding area consist of 3 zones that are the Phra Nakhon zone, Pom Prap Sattru Phai zone and Dusit zone with 47 potential tourist attractions as a result from the study of King Chulalongkorn era tourist attractions when the new Siam was introduced, enabling modernization. The top 5 results from the assessment are Parusakawan Palace and Phra Sumen Fort, Benchamabophit Temple, Bang Khun Phrom Temple, Pipit Banglamphu. Moreover, it also reveals intangible cultural resources in many areas containing stories, memories as well as cultural arts inherited from the past to the present such as the Alley of Chaisri Drama, the House of Dancing, the Art House or Baan Nang Loeng, Baan Nara Silp, Baan Pan Thom Alley, Tabtim Goddess Shrine, food culture in Kaew Chaochom Restaurant, Suan Sunandha Palace Hotel, Vietnamese food in Baan Mit Kham community and Nang Loeng Market, etc. In order to preserve and inherit these cultural heritage and maintain the valueand identity that will lead the tourism standard to the next level, the government, localconcerned organizations, tour operators, communities and cultural resources shouldcome up with a guideline to boost the potential with integration and management through participation to ensure readiness and cooperation in building cultural identity and value of the cultural resources such as activities, tour routes and programs, networkbuilding to facilitate knowledge exchange both inside and outside the communities andresources, community maps and cultural wisdom heritage (storytelling) through the community foundation, knowledge development such as business, marketing, public relation, information technology knowledge, and provide basic facilities both consumption and utility for tourists, universal designs, transportation links and transit connections both today and the future.

Keywords: Cultural tourism, Tourism potential, Cultural heritage, Suan Dusit Area