Natural and cultural heritage. Perceived importance for tourism : a case study in Thailand

Tourism development built on local community's perceptions, traditional beliefs, and heritage is crucial in sustaining tourism. The main goa]s of this study are (a) explore the importance of natural and cultural heritage in sustaining tourism as perceived by the host community in Koh Kred and (b) analyse the challenges and issues that Koh Kred has to face to achieve sustainable tourism. The study, using a combination of questionnaire survey and interviews (n=100 respondents) as well as field visits, was conducted in Koh Kred, a tiny, man-made island in the Chao Phraya River in Thailand. This paper discusses the following results: (a) cultural and natural features that the local residents identified to be vital for the sustainabilit)of their culture and livelihoods; (b) perceived importance of local heritage to the residents' way of life including tourism and livelihoods; and (c) challenges and issues that Koh Kred has to face to achieve sustainable tourism. The respondents revealed that tangible cultural heritage namely temples, local cuisine, Mon pottery and costume are essential for religious and economic reasons. Non-tangible cultural heritage features such as festivals, Mon dance and language were also perceived as being essential. On the other hand, the natural heritage features considered important for spiritual and pragmatic reasons are the farm lots where they plant cash crops, the Chao Praya River where they harvest aquatic produce and extract day used in Mon pottery, and sacred fig trees, which are venerated and protected by Buddhist devotees. The respondents believed that cultural and natural heritage in Koh Kred can be revitalised through tourism. The study concludes that the tourism industry should develop a tourism development strategy based on the local community's perceptions and traditional practices. To achieve sustainable tourism, it is crucial to ensure that the cultural and natural heritage features close to the heart of the local people are recognised. Given that culture, nature, and livelihoods are inextricably connected, sustaining the integrity of this relationship can foster prosperity, ecological integrity, cultural identity, and social well-being.