Designing A Tool for Small Rural Community Classification Based on Traditional Belief and Its Implication for Future Tourism Development: A Case Study of North-Eastern Community

Abstract

This research focused on the cultural and economic significance of traditional ghost beliefs in rural communities. The primary objectives of this study are threefold: 1) the development and contribution of tools and processes for classifying communities based on their ghost beliefs, 2) the testing and validation of these classification tools, and 3) the proposition of strategies aimed at leveraging ghost beliefs for local community space development to foster tourism. This study engaged 240 local residents in community classification testing, sought insights from three key informants, and collaborated with three academic experts for validation. A combination of quantitative and qualitative surveys was employed to rigorously test and refine the community classification tools. The findings demonstrated that the developed tools effectively classified rural communities, thereby increasing residents' awareness of traditional beliefs as valuable community assets. For more effectiveness, two innovative strategies-”Watch local” and “Be local”-are introduced to the cultural and economic development in rural communities. The tools expedited community assessment and the development of custom tourism formats for diverse tourist types. These contributed to coherent tourism plans that met community needs, thereby enhancing tourist destinations. Data analysis refined the tourism formats to efficaciously meet community and tourist expectations. This research furnished vital insights into capitalizing on ghost beliefs for the economic advancement of rural communities via sustainable tourism practices.