The Souvenir product designs inspired by paleontological features. To promote cultural tourism to add tourism value and raise community economy: a case study of marine areas and islands of Satun Geopark.

Abstract

The objects of this study were to: 1. Design, create and develop souvenir products by using inspiration from fossil characteristics in the process of designing and creating products along with using local materials and knowledge in the product design and creation process; 2. Distribute souvenir product designs to the communities and organizations involved in park areas, as well as the media involved, in order to ensure that community members have a learning process and are capable of further commercial improvement. The population and sample consisted of 10 local community leaders and business operators, 50 tourists in the area and 3 design experts who were selected with purposive sampling. The research instruments were interview forms, questionnaires and consistency assessment forms. The statistics used were mean scores and percentages. The findings were as follows: 1. The sample wanted to include prominent local natural features in designing souvenir products (90%) with the most popular souvenir products being toys and collectible items (80%). The main factors causing buyers to decide to purchase souvenir products were convenience in carrying and transportation (90%). The suitable price for souvenir products was found to be 100-500 baht (84%);  2. Introduction of souvenir product designs to communities by imparting knowledge on souvenir product designs based on community identity and exchanging ideas on community souvenir product designs by holding meetings with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Rajabhat Songkhla University along with visiting the area to impair knowledge from the research to build up to community package designs.