Tourism Development from Ancient City to Living Museum at Wiang Tha Kan, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai

Abstract

This research aimed to study an unsatisfied success of the existing tourism pattern as ‘Ancient City’ of Wiang Tha Kan and apply a new tourism concept as ‘Living Museum’ under a new paradigm to create Wiang Tha Kan’s tourism direction. The research used the qualitative research method that included the studies on history and tourism development and a search for the virtue of local tourism resources. Although Wiang               Tha Kan was previously an important frontier during Hariphunchai period and was categorized as the 3^rd group of ancient city, it has the weak points in the historical significances, archeological evidences and artistic works compared with other historical sites. In addition, the unsatisfied success was a result of misunderstanding of local community and external supporters that promoted the tourism pattern as an old paradigm, which ignored an actual potential of tourism resources and a relationship between local community and historic site. This research found the virtue of tourism resources that related to local lifestyle by using a four-dimension method: story, difference, significance and management. The results of this research were used to create activities and real management according to the concept of living museum. This new concept was proposed to public forum and was assessed by the stakeholders. The concept was accepted and used as a future direction for tourism management of Wiang Tha Kan.