The Study of Cultural Capital and Community Participation in Cultural Tourism Management in Yom Yom Ban Wang Pai, Tha Ton Sub-District, Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research was aimed to study cultural capital and community participation in tourism management at Yom Ban Wang Pai in Tha Ton subdistrict, Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province. The qualitative approach to research was employed, and nonprobability sampling methods were used by choosing the purposive sampling technique as the main instrument. Sampling was conducted by choosing samples with criteria set following the objective of this research. In addition, it further supplemented samples through the snowball sampling technique. The number of respondents came from a review of repetitiveness and saturation of data. The semi-structured, in-depth interview, group interview, and participant observation techniques were used in data collection, and thematic analysis was used as a tool in analyzing data collected. Results revealed that Yom Ban Wang Pai had high potential in terms of cultural capital, with unique local identity in their cultures, natural beauty, and tourism activities reflecting their local wisdom that was readily attributive to their readiness as a cultural tourism site. Besides, members of their community were willing, conforming, and ready to support tourism site development. On contrary, results also revealed their lack of readiness in certain aspects, for example, strong intention in homestay site development without proper skills and under-developed facilities.