Social Capital in Tourism Management in the Bun Khoon Lan Festival Wat Sawetawan Wararam, Nuea Sub-district Municipality Mueang District Kalasin Province

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to: 1) study the social capital in the Boon Khoon Lan Festival at Svetawan Wanaram Temple, Nuea Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang District, Kalasin Province; and 2) investigate the roles of social capital in community-based tourism management based on the 3A’s components. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and participant observation from 30 purposively selected key informants, consisting of 10 community and local government leaders, 12 village committee members, and 8 civil sector representatives. The findings revealed that social capital functions as an institutional mechanism to mobilize community resources, substituting public budgets. This operates at two levels: 1) The operational level, driven by trust and traditional norms, which fosters labor cooperation. 2) The structural level, relying on three relationship networks: bonding networks among villagers, bridging networks through the younger generation, and linking networks integrating cooperation with government agencies. Regarding tourism management, it was found that bonding networks provide the foundation for creating attractions, linking networks support amenities, and bridging networks expand accessibility via digital media.     Policy Recommendation The Nuea Subdistrict Municipality should integrate the social capital base into its local development plan by establishing collaborative mechanisms with network partners to support infrastructure and subsidize economic costs, which will enhance the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of tourism management.