แนวทางการพัฒนาการท่องเที่ยวเชิงวัฒนธรรม: กรณีศึกษา วัดในนครหลวงเวียงจันทน์ สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว / Means to Improve Cultural Tourism: A Case Study of Temples in Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This study is qualitative research which aims to study the potential, difficulties, and means to improve cultural tourism: at temples in Vientiane Capital, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Target groups include Wat Si Muang, Wat Sisaket, and Pha That Luang (Wat That Luang). Fifty-one Respondents include abbots, deputy abbots, monks,tourism authority officials, persons who know the history of the temples, entrepreneurs, Lao titan and foreign tourists. Tools for data collection are semi-structured interview guideline, in-depth interview guidelines, observation al guidelines, note-taking, and photography. Data is analyzed in both Content Analysis approach and Descriptive Analysis approach.

Results are as follows.

1. Identifying cultural tourism potential in Vientiane Capital, Wat Si Muang is the the city’s highlight and home of many sacred objects. Wat Sisaket has a remarkable Uposatha hall of beautiful murals and ancient Buddha’s statues, while Pha That Luang (Wat That Luang) sees many people coming in to worship Lord Buddha’s relics.
2. Difficulties for the cultural tourism at the temples in Vientiane are, for Wat Si Mueang, no parking is available, and goods sold at the temple are over prices. For example, flowers, incense sticks, candles, and votive objects. No souvenirs are available either. For Wat Sisaket, there are no tour guides and the 16.30 closing time at is too early; no tourism publicity, and few souvenirs and sacred objects for sale. For Pha That Luang (Wat That Luang), the temple is outside the city with few direction signs which are hard to notice souvenirs are high-priced and not noticeable, as well as high-priced souvenirs.
3. Means to improve the cultural tourism at the three temples are improvement in publicity, for both in-width and in-depth, in which social media should be incorporated, as well as tar guides at the temples. A network with other organizations should be set up, and the local people should get involved in the tourism promotion. These will help to enhance the capability of cultural tourism in Vientiane