Community-based cultural tourism using responsible tourism initiative: A case study of Khok Salung, Lopburi province, Thailand

Abstract

Abstract Although tourism has been the driving force of Thailand’s economic development, community-based cultural tourism in Thailand has not been included as part of the mainstream tourism sector. Moreover, sustaining their income and preserving their cultural identity is challenging. Khok Salung village, Lopburi province, Thailand, once experienced these struggles from both internal and external factors. Drawing upon a qualitative methodology, this research uses a framework of responsible tourism by incorporating economic, social, and environmental dimensions with partnerships from all stakeholders in the community on how it fosters challenges and overcomes challenges. Today, Khok Salung village has successfully built a community-based cultural tourism model that not only raises their economic capital but also preserves social, cultural, and symbolic capital. More importantly, despite obtaining different forms of capital that Khok Salung village achieves, the community successfully preserves their eroding culture to their existing villagers or the next generations and to the external people outside the community.