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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011

The development and design concept of eco-cultural tourism

in Wiangkhuk county, Nongkhai province

Warunee Wang1

1Faculty of architecture, Khon kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002

Abstract: Owing to natural and geographical conditions, the

development has been hindered in the northeast of Thailand.

Currently, although tourism, culture and other resources are not

being put to good use, they still have potentiality of developing.

Thus, by analyzing the feasibility of developing eco-cultural

tourism resources in Nongkhai, Waingkhuk County is chosen as

case study. Eco-cultural tourism zones is planned and created in

order to promote community development in the region, bringing

out more cultural and ecological resources to use. The operation

of tourism zone is integrated flexibly; to adhere to the concept

of “green, leisure, community participation and participatory

tourism”. This is an alternative way to solve the problem of poverty

in the northeast region of Thailand, also to interpret and validate

self-sufficiency economic practice.

Keywords : Cultural tourism; eco-tourism; tourism planning;

sustainable development

Introduction From the perspective of protecting the environment,

sustainable development is to base on the cultural development,

to create for the rational systems of social developing, and

to ensure the whole society stability. As a major agricultural

community, the northeast of Thailand becomes a bottleneck of

economic and the peasants here have been lingering in poor

shadow. Even so, the region still has potential for further

development. Currently, tourism, cultural and other resources are

not well utilized and organized in many areas. The local are not

aware of how to create their own living environment, to combine

the living space itself with the available resources around them,

and to seek a new path of economic and cultural development.

Therefore, the study proposes a concept of rural community

planning base on available resources in the chosen community.

Materials and methods In this study, Wiangkhuk County in Amphur Maung

Nongkhai of Nongkhai province, Thailand, was selected as a

case study due to its rich in cultural resources, favorable climate

and geographical position along the Mekong River. Wiangkhuk

locates 11 kilometers in the northwest from Nongkhai’s downtown.

The community consists of 8 villages. Five of them locate along

Mekong River. Two villages locate on the other sides of the 2-lane

roads while one village is far away from the rest. From the local

government statistic in 2009, Wiangkhuk has 1,555 households

with 6,246 household populations; population density is 376.7/

km2.

In order to investigate public’s opinion on community

development and eco-cultural tourism, the author has adopted

an unstructured interview and random sampling method to hand

out questionnaires for 150 households of 8 villages in February,

2010 and hand out 100 questionnaires for tourists during the

Rocket Festival (Boon Bangfai) in May, 2010. All the data were

collected by qualitative methodology.

The findings were presented in descriptive analysis.

Under the eco-cultural tourism approach and local resources,

the idea from data analysis is used for planning the tourism zone

and its facilities of Wiangkhuk, Nongkhai and a nearby region

as a whole.

1. Problems of Nongkhai tourism Nongkhai, as a border province between Thailand and

Laos, has been an open window to the outside in the northeast

of Thailand. Many oversea tourists are accustomed to enter into

Thailand from Nongkhai, which bring a lot of business

opportunities to the local, especially for tourism industry.

Usually when the tourists stop by Nongkhai city, they will visit some

local villages, temples and folk cultural sites. Although the

natural geographical and cultural environment has nature-

endowed advantage in Nongkhai, but in the whole region,

especially rural areas along Mekong River, tourism value are

not fully developed. Many tourists have become the passerby

or do not spend much time in Nongkhai. From questionnaires

analysis, tourism problems in Nongkhai are as follows:

Firstly, Nongkhai lacks in tourism facilities that rich in

local characteristics, known as tourism brand. When the province

is introduced to foreigners, Sala Kaew Koo has often been seen

as one of local representatives full of distinctive attractions. But,

in fact, it is only the huge concrete artificial Stone Park and not

on behalf of the local history and culture. Thus it cannot be seen

as a successful tourist attraction sight.

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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011

When asking local residents in Wiangkhuk “Do you

agree that Nongkhai’s local tourism sight lack of local feature “,

56.7% of residents disagree. Tourists were asked “Do you like

the distinctive local tourism sight, or popular tourism sight”, 52%

of people preferred the distinctive local tourism sight. Obviously,

it is very important for local residents and tourists to create

tourism activities filled with local identity.

Secondly, eco-cultural tourism resources including

landscape are idle. Eco-tourism is only limited to a few

activities. Therefore, when asked tourists, “What are leisure

activities you like the most in Nongkhai?” 64% like dabbling in

Mekong River shore, 34% like the Vietnamese cuisine. Since

eco-cultural tourism projects are still not developed by the local,

but in their agricultural activities are concerned, activities they may

offer for tourists are: harvest fresh fruits and vegetables (43.3%),

manufacture of bamboo products (40.7%). In the author’s view,

these activities have the potential to develop.

Thirdly, cultural tourism is mainly limited to the place

that inactive landscapes display, such as famous temples. Those

dynamic, participatory activities about folk culture have not been

developed accordingly, such as Boon Bangfai and Loy Krathong.

Precisely these festivals can be arranged as a tourism project to

attract more tourists. Local residents and foreign tourists, mostly

like to participate in such activities, not only for leisure, but also

to experience the essence of folk culture, which cannot receive

in general festival.

Fourthly, cultural eco-tourism places and activities

are lack of integration and linkage in the whole. Insufficiency of

overall planning has become a chronic illness to local tourism

development. If general plan and guidelines of tourism

development can not be formulated, operation and improvement

of facilities, economic and cultural benefits can not get a win-win

situation during its developing.

2. Concept of cultural eco- tourism development In planning Nongkhai tourism development, the

main approach should based on “green, leisure, community

participation and tourist’s experience”. The general idea should

reflect three aspects: functional diversification, investment

diversification, and development of industry, as a goal to achieve

economic, social and ecological benefits, and to develop modern

eco-cultural tourism which is the integration of Buddhist culture,

folk culture, ecological agriculture and tourism.

2.1. The premise of the eco-cultural tourism

development is to combine the overall plan with environmental

improvement of rural community in Nongkhai.

In cultural eco-tourism development, environmental

improvement of rural communities should be taken into

account. By focusing on the concept of self-sufficient economic [1],

mobilize the enthusiasm of the local; promote self-reliant spirit by

community participation under the help of experts. According

to the planning, the living environment is reconstructed, living

facilities is improved, green living condition and tourism

environment is to be provided.

2. 2 Emphasis on brining out characteristic of local

culture.

With the growth of knowledge and experience of

tourists in demand, people concern about cultural tourism

products increase and cultural enjoyment of tourists become one

of the requirements. Since eco-cultural tourism is a special kind

of tourism in Nongkhai, it should bring the unique local culture,

lifestyle and customs to further develop. In operation and

administration, should focus on integrating rural management,

interpretative services, experienced activities and folk cultural

activities, which show its unique positioning in the layout of

sightseeing and recreation, and then compose of rural leisure

and tourism areas with beautiful scenery and rich cultural

connotations.

2.3. Through integrating and combining of the

transport facilities, cultural eco-tourism may form a large

network in Nongkhai.

If the traffic network is improved, tourists can freely

travel within the whole area. It will benefit to the integration of

regional resources. Firstly, road network is established with a

rational layout, optimized structure and multiple functions. The

accessibility of the road is further enhanced in order to ensure

the effectively connection between urban and rural, and to link

up a variety ways of travel. Secondly, accessibility to all villages’

landscape and sightseeing is to be guaranteed through improving

the situation of rural road and optimizing travel routes. The aim

is to maximize the sharing of rural cultural tourism resources

and extend the stay of tourists.

2.4. To highlight the duality of the cultural eco-tourism

that serve local residents and tourists.

Generally, the design and practice of tourism projects

prioritize to serve tourist. In many tourist areas, tourism is an

independent part to the local’s daily life. This kind of tourism is

for a commercial purpose; people who are involved are workers,

which is currently the most popular way of eco-tourism operation.

In the author’s opinion, cultural eco-tourism should

combined with the improvement of community environment to

ensure better development, and cultural eco-tourism project

springs from the local’s daily life. In other words, the residents

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turn their real eco-life culture, including Buddhist culture and

folk culture into an unintentional show. With the concept every

local become parts of tourist culture to stimulate local people

passion to develop their own unique culture, and to offer visitors

an authentic cultural scene.

3. The selection of case study and design of tourism zone Available resources of cultural and eco-tourism are

very rich in Nongkhai which are distributed along the main line

of Mekong River. Tourism development has ideally advantage

in favorable climate and geographical position. If we can plan

feasibly and make integration, the tourism will have good

prospects in the region.

3.1 The design of cultural eco-tourism zone along

Mekong River

Aim of the design:

According to the special geographical location of

Wiangkhuk in Nongkhai, it is an important part of tourism planning

to create eco-tourism zone along the river. The aim is to make full

use of the Mekong water resources, shore resources and natural

beauty of both sides, and highlight the rural characteristics and

fish-hunting culture, in order to enhance the function of leisure

and tourist resort.

Planning content:

• Shoal scenery: In hot season of every year, a shoal

will appear in Mekong River near Moo 1st of Wiangkhuk. It can

turn to a temporary leisure waterfront, including riverside dining,

experience-based fishing activities and dabbling. The method

and practice is flexible due to the condition of the shoal along

Mekong River that will disappear during rainy season.

• Oxygen and sport forest: Choose the area between

Moo 5th and Moo 8th where trees and vegetation environment

is well preserved, to construct the leisure park, complete facilities

such as traditional-style pavilion, hammocks, temporary picnic

area, where tourists may feel close to nature. Holiday leisure

zone is built which the combination of leisure sports and

shadiness of forest landscape.

• Cultural and ecological villages: To present the

ecological feature of natural and social environment of the local,

such as in Moo 5th, many fish ponds in this village can be found.

“Tangible” and “intangible” cultural heritage about the fisheries

are protected by the residents voluntarily, such as the use of

fishing nets and equipment, fisherman skills, the skill of weaving

nets and local wisdom for craftsman. The people, property and

the environment is being in the inherent ecological relationship,

cultural factors is kept more intact , such as the natural

landscape, daily necessities customs, and etc.

3.2. The design of cultural eco-tourism zone for temple

Aim of the design:

Temple is a component of tourism planning in the

region. In Wingkhuk, each village has at least one temple.

Temple is a unique charm of Thai culture. Many temples in

Wingkhuk are magnificent and beautifully decorated and reflect

building technology in contemporary. Moreover Wiangkhuk has

another charm of the quiet, simplicity, ecology and environmental

protection of forest temple. Some festivals and ceremonies hold

in the temple are important resources to enjoy also. Therefore,

temples culture should mainly integrate in the design. Village

temples and forest temple are planned on tourist routes. So, the

rich temple culture in eco-tourism zone is created.

Planning content:

• Theppol Temple (วัดเทพพล) is famous for historical

relics, including a city pillar in the ancient time and Lao-Lanna

pagodas. Many trees inside the temple form beautiful scenery.

However, the overall functional layout should be adjusted in order

to improve the temple environment and strengthen its importance

for local history.

• Yod Gaew Temple (วัดยอดแก้ว) and Saosuwan

Temple (วดัสาวสวุรรณ): Well-known for historical background and

relics, such as Buddhist statues, structure of the old monastery.

The two temples cover a small area and having a few trees.

Renovation and functional improvement of environment should

be done to increase historical and cultural charm.

• Temples along the main road: The architectural style

of these temples is varied but lack of softscape like perennial tree,

and more of big concrete pavement in common. The layout is

also not reasonable. The design aims to increase the softscape

ratio and rationally plan to increase visual and functional quality

to the public.

• Other temples: They are built with contemporary

style and material. These temples are smaller in scale but can

be linked to the nearby temple by overall planning and design.

Even though each temple has its own characteristics, but in

generally reflects the style of rural temple at the present time.

3.3 The design of folk culture tourism projects

Aim of the design:

The “reconstruction” of local culture is a necessary

part of tourism industry in the region. Folk culture resources

that full of local identity can integrate with cultural tourism.

According to the distribution of time (folk and Buddhist festivals)

and space (landscape, forest and Mekong river), combined with

the functional area of rural community planning, public activities

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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011

can take place to serve the local and tourist at the same time.

Folklore will be recurred in the specific space and time of rural

communities. Moreover, the theme of design is a combination of

real life of local residents that express the richness and diversity

of local culture, not as the performance.

Planning content:

• Loy Krathong: On full moon night in December of

Thai calendar every year, beauty pageant contest will be hold

in the lake of Moo 5th as well as folk music and dance. Beside

general activities, the area to sell and display local snacks, food,

and product should be add, which would attract more participant.

• Rocket Festival: In June of each year the villages

hold a parade for rocket festival that highlighting the unique folk

culture of the Northeast.

• Dragon Boat Races: Dragon Boat Festival is often

held at in November. The teams of dragon boat gather on the

river bank and take part in the race while visitors experience the

fun of dragon boat racing from two sides of the river bank.

3.4 The design of tourism zone for arts and crafts

display

Aim of the design

It is given prominence to make use of folk art resources

in tourism operation. Visitors can learn about the local arts and

crafts, including bamboo weaving, pottery and woodcarving.

Combined with arts and crafts production, the project of

participatory tourism is developed. Visitors can learn to make it by

themselves and experience its charm; meanwhile, can increase

the attractiveness of tourism in the region.

Planning content:

According to the One Tambon One Product (OTOP)

strategy, display area of bamboo weaving, and other arts and

crafts manufacturing, can located along the street or suitable

area in the villages. By doing so, villagers can work for making a

living and for exhibit at the same time. The participatory activity

for tourists will locate in display area.

• Display and sale area of bamboo, straw weaving:

Display content including the collection of raw materials, material

selection, processing, product weaving, as well as custom and

utensil related to bamboo weaving.

• Display and sale area of hand-woven clothes: Display

content including the source of silk, selection, dyeing, the type

of loom, weaving technology, pattern design, finished product,

emphasizing on the customer experience.

• Display and sale area of clay craft: including the

collection, selection, processing of the clay, pottery tools, pottery

art and demonstrations, customer experience, product display.

3.5. The design of eco-agriculture Park

Aim of the design:

Many agricultural products in Thailand are full of local

character. Many foreign tourists like to learn about Thai rice or

other non-staple food product. Therefore, the eco-agriculture park

project should starts from tourists’ interest and combines with

living pattern of the local farmers. The exhibition detail should

relate to fruit, grain and other agricultural products in commu-

nity. So that visitors can understand the ecology and agriculture

background of the local. Peasants can prepare some traditional

picking tools and fishing equipment for the tourists, teach them

how to take care of the trees and experience the fun of picking

and harvest agricultural product. The activities not only increase

the local income, but also expand the influence of agricultural

products to the public.

Planning content:

Specific area are planned, including jasmine

rice-growing and processing areas; picking and display areas of

seasonal fruit; green corn cultivation areas and maize products

processing zones; green featured vegetables planting areas and

picking areas; the sale and experienced area of local cuisine as

well as traditional way to preserve food and agriculture product.

Eco-agriculture Park is not only the main experienced

activities that tourists can enjoy the tropical agriculture living,

but also agricultural products are promoted. Farmers can grow,

cultivate and manage them in daily life. By the time tourists come

to visit, they may provide necessary reception services, such

as to introduce species of plants, teach visitors how to raise the

crops, harvest or pick, tell legends story of some crops, and help

visitors cooking agricultural products. The eco-agriculture park

can also serve as social practice and learning base for local

students, which will increase their love to the hometown.

4. Flexibility and existing problem of operating tourism zone

4.1 Flexible integration and operation of tourism zone

The research plans and designs local tourism

resources from the integration aspect, bases on daily lives of

the local and emphasizes on designing tourism landscape zone

under self-sufficiency economic philosophy. The flexibility during

the process of tourism zone maybe as follow:

From the aspect of time, the tourism zone is a

non-simultaneous. Compared with other tourism zone, folk culture

and eco-tourism zone emphasizes depend on time attributes;

need a specific time each year to carry out tourism activities.

Geographically, the tourism zone is overlapped, for

example, the tourism zone of arts and crafts shows may be

coincided with the folk culture tourism zone. In this case, their

activities can hold on the island of Moo 5th.

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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development27-29 January 2011

Formally, the type of permanent and temporary tourism

project are co-existing. When tourism zones are built, such as

temple and eco-agricultural park are all permanent ones. But

folk art exhibition and folk culture tourism zone are temporary;

the content of exhibition may change or adjust each year.

Generally speaking, tourists can enjoy the rural

landscapes with different theme in different period of times

while local villagers can continue their normal life on agricultural

producing.

4.2 The problem to carrying out the tourism zone

Although the development and utilization of eco-cultural

tourism resource will benefit for improving the life quality of

farmers, rural sustainable development and the long-term

effectiveness of environmental protection, but the practice of

tourism zones will face some difficulties, as follows:

Firstly, by time, implementation of planning and

developing of tourism resources can not finished in a short period

of time. They are put into effect by steps and stages according

to schedule. Therefore a detailed plan in each step is required.

Secondly, whether the projects are mainly developed

by enterprise, government, or the villagers, it should be discussed

furthermore in practice.

Thirdly, the planning maybe cause the conflicts with

local believe. For example, Boon bang Fai has held on the road

between Yod Gaew temple and Saosuwan temple every year.

The road itself has less than five meters wide and the temple

court is small, which is not fully support the performing of the

folk dances and activities. The local government intends to move

the whole festival to more appropriate area, but local residents

oppose due to the belief in the local legend. The conflict between

the local and government is unfavorable for eco-cultural tourism

development. Therefore, tourism project and activities should

harmonious with folk belief and local custom.

Conclusion Through integrating and designing Wingkhuk tourism

zones, including culture project, such as Buddhist folk festivals,

folk handicrafts exhibition ; static cultural landscape, such as

local Buddhist temples and relics, eco-cultural tourism resources

along Mekong river and experienced projects of eco-agriculture,

the region will be full of rich unique cultural and ecological

tourism resources.

In fact, the study is an attempt for rural sustainable

development planning. Through planning and design, the life

of farmers should be improved because the planning aims to

strengthen local economic and culture development. Of course,

this approach is not a simple superposition about rural cultural

resources, but adheres to the concept of complementary advan-

tages and mutual benefit, form the effectiveness of 1 plus 1 > 2.

Through carrying out the project of eco-tourism, the

farmers can voluntarily participate, transform and build their

living space, while the government does not have to spend many

resources or money to support them. The way of practice achieve

the sustainable development indeed, also interpret and validate

self-sufficiency economic theory of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Re-thinking and practice of developing rural eco-cultural tourism

resources, provides an alternative path to change the existence

of rural community in Northeast Thailand.

Reference[1] Sathirathai, S., Priyanut, P. Sufficiency Economy and a

Healthy Community, (Conference paper), 3rd IUCN World

Conservation Congress, Bangkok: Thailand. 2004.