Designing a Temple Stay Program Based on the One in Nong Khai Province, Thailand

Thirachaya Maneenetr,Thanh Ha Tran

doi:10.5539/ass.v10n13p31

Abstract

The aims of this research are to study 1) tourists’ opinions and demands for Temple Stay Program (TSP) based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand and 2) guidelines to design TSP based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand. The Mix method was applied and for the quantitative method, 400 questionnaires were collected and the data was analyzed using mean, standard deviation and Chi-square tests. For the qualitative data, a focus group discussion was organized. The participants included monks, academics, tourism entrepreneurs, involved public organizations and local philosophers who proposed guidelines to design TSP based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand. The results showed that most of the tourists approved of the TSP in Nong Khai province, which has religious activities in tourism to enhance awareness of Thai religious values. Tourists’ demands for TSP similar to the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand are at a high level. Guidelines to design TSP based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand include 1) establishing an official center of information for TSP in Nong Khai province 2) planning diversity for TSP packages 3) creating diverse and meaningful activities for TSP 4) establishing a training course on local handicrafts or local food for tourists, and 5) expanding roles of monks as guides in Buddhist cultural and local tradition activities.

Highlights

Today, religious tourism is closely related with holiday and cultural tourism, especially where the religious sites are prominent significant cultural sites or cultural events (Rinschede, 1992)
The results showed that most of the tourists approved of the Temple Stay Program (TSP) in Nong Khai province, which has religious activities in tourism to enhance awareness of Thai religious values
Guidelines to design TSP based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand include 1) establishing an official center of information for TSP in Nong Khai province 2) planning diversity for TSP packages 3) creating diverse and meaningful activities for TSP 4) establishing a training course on local handicrafts or local food for tourists, and 5) expanding roles of monks as guides in Buddhist cultural and local tradition activities

Summary

Introduction

Religious tourism is closely related with holiday and cultural tourism, especially where the religious sites are prominent significant cultural sites or cultural events (Rinschede, 1992). In Korea, TSP is a cultural experience program which helps tourists understand Buddhism better and creates a positive image for Korean tourism (OECD, 2009) Participating in this program, tourists have a chance to attend the Buddhist ceremonial services and special training programs on local handicraft and food. Nong Khai province is located in the upper Northeastern region of Thailand This province is along the border with Laos PDR by the Mekong River which is across from VienTiane – Laos PDR capital. Paying homage to sacred sites, attending prayer ceremonies or making merit are usually religious activities in tourism in which participants can clear their minds by attending Buddhist lectures (Wong et al, 2013) This province is well-known for the Naga Fireball, allegedly shot from the Mekong River in northwestern Thailand by a mythical serpent known as Naga. This supernatural phenomenon in the belief of the local community is to greet the return of Lord Buddha from heaven at the end of Buddhist Lent (Cohen, 2007)

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Conclusion