The Development of Community Model Based on Sufficiency Economy and Local Wisdom to Promote Community Creative Tourism in Nong Khai Province The Development of Community Model Based on Sufficiency Economy and Local Wisdom to Promoting Communities Creative Tourism in Nong Khai Province

Abstract

            This research aims to 1) study life style and the concrete application of Sufficiency Economy of communities in Nong Khai province, 2) study conserving, learning, and transferring of local wisdom of communities in Nong Khai province, 3) study how to integrate knowledge of Sufficiency Economy and local wisdom of communities in Nong Khai province with creative tourism activities, 4) conduct experimentally creative tourism activities in communities model based on Sufficiency Economy and local wisdom, and 5) share the knowledge from experimental creative tourism activities in communities’ model based on Sufficiency Economy and local wisdom and present the developed prototype model for other communities. The key informants of this research were 75 participants selected purposively and consisting of chairman of Community Economic Learning Center, committee of Community Economic Learning Center, village philosophers and tourists. The tools to collect the data were in depth interview, focus group and try-out conduct of creative tourism activities in two communities based on Sufficiency Economy. The methods used to analyze the data were analyzation, interpretation, and conclusion. The descriptive technique was used to present this research.

          The result revealed that 1) the lifestyle of both villagers for farming was more of integrated farming. People in each village still strictly followed the old tradition of the village because their strong leader brought them to adopt Sufficiency Economy in daily life. 2) The conservation of local wisdom began from all sides in the village due to the awareness of local wisdom value in each category. Moreover, knowledge transfer was consistent at all levels. 3) The sufficiency economy and local wisdom of community model could integrate effectively with creative tourism due to 6 potential factors such as human capital in village, raw materials, geographic location, cultural traditions, the village's natural attractions, and the availability of homestay management. 4) Lifestyle in accordance with the principles of economic philosophy and local wisdom could be elevated to creative tourism activities significantly. 5) Developmental models focused on encouraging later generations to be aware of the importance of Sufficiency Economy and local wisdom.