A Temple’s Management of Buddhist Artworks for Promoting Thailand and Malaysia Border Tourism: A Case Study of Wat Phutthathiwas, Betong, Yala Province

Abstract

The objectives of this qualitative study were to study the physical appearance of Buddhist artworks and construction at Wat Phutthathiwas’ and the temple’s management of these attractions to promote tourism at the Thailand-Malaysia border. Data were collected from related documents and the field study through non-participant observation and in-depth interviews of 17 informants. The informants were selected using purposive sampling, and consisted of Buddhist monks, locals, academics, and tourists. The data were validated using triangulation and later descriptively concluded. The study found that the temple arranged the landscape where the constructions are located with pagodas, monk’s dwellings, pavilions, Buddha images, roads, and a crematorium in seven descending order to mean the seven noble treasures in a sacred place. The following are the temple’s management of Buddhist artworks: 1) Planning: The temple focuses on developing people rather than the constructions. This is because when people are developed, they will be aware of the value of Buddhist artworks and behavioral adaptation. 2) Organizational structure consists of administration, Dhamma dissemination, education, buildings and grounds, and others. The buildings and grounds department is directly responsible for Buddhist art preservation for tourism promotion. 3) Command and control: The temple exercises its power not through authorization but by request. People are requested to preserve the arts and learn about their benefits and value for tourism. 4) Coordination: Communication of both insiders and outsiders including networking is based on the temple’s monks trustworthiness.