CULTURAL HERITAGE MAPPING AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE OLD TOWN OF TAKUA PA, PHANG NGA PROVINCE, THAILAND

This research aimed to collect data on cultural heritage sites to analyze the spatial distribution of tangible cultural heritage in the old town of Takua Pa, Phang Nga Province, Thailand. The study seeks to establish a foundational database for assessing the spatial potential of these sites and for planning sustainable tourism development in the future. This study used a qualitative research methodology integrated with field surveys and applied geographic information systems (GIS) technology to map cultural heritage sites. The GIS mapping revealed the spatial relationships between heritage sites and their surrounding contexts, as well as their connections to other heritage sites in the area. The research framework used the theories of human settlement, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism, with in-depth interviews with local key informants to gather comprehensive insights through the Heritage Cycle concept. The results of the study revealed that the old town of Takua Pa has a variety of tangible cultural heritage sites with historical significance, including religious sites, shrines, temples, traditional community architecture, and landscapes shaped by traditional ways of life. These elements have resulted in some cultural heritage sites with high potential to be developed into unique cultural tourism destinations. However, many sites have not been promoted or developed systematically enough, resulting in a lack of connection with existing tourist routes and a lack of potential to effectively accommodate tourists. This study therefore leads to the proposal of appropriate promo tion strategies to plan sustainable tourism that covers environmental, social and economic dimensions and to actively involve the community in preserving and promoting local heritage. These efforts are necessary for the old town of Takua Pa to become a valuable and sustainable cultural tourism destination in the long term.