Local wisdom and culture-based health tourism in Ranong province Thailand

College of Hospitality Industry Management,Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, 1 U Thong Nok rd., Dusit, 10300 Bangkok, Thailand

^* Corresponding author: sarita.pu@ssru.ac.th

Abstract

The study, Local Wisdom and Culture-based Health Tourism in Rayong Province aims to develop a model of local wisdom and culture-based health tourism in Ranong Province through a qualitative study for Ban Hat Som Pan Community, Ranong Province, because of suitable potential for connecting with other health tourism routes in Ranong Province. Data were collected from relevant persons in health and cultural tourism as well as local stakeholders through in-depth and group interviews (four groups: public and private persons relevant to health tourism; experts; local leaders and wise people; and Thai and foreign tourists). The data was put through a content analysis process and triangulation to verify data reliability. The study found that Ban Hat Som Pan Community had natural tourist attractions that facilitated health tourism route creation, as well as health-promoting local wisdom that could be included in the health tourism route. Furthermore, the community cooperations with private and public agencies to connect to the larger tourism route in Ranong Province, diversifying the tourism route as the health route could start from the community and then cover other attractions. The identity of community tourism such as the “Shape Ore, Sift Ore, Soak Ore” was developed alongside the three main activities developed by this study, consisting of 1. Make – Eat, Delicious Medicine through health-promoting local food wisdom and cooking for visitors; 2. Make – Beauty, as the use of local herbs in a traditional cosmetic or skin care spa; 3. Make – Body, as a relaxing or therapeutic massage using locally-produced herbal oil and spring bath to promote health holistically. Along this route, the tourists will be able to spend time traveling and engaging in activities with the locals for recreation and health promotion along the guideline of health tourism.