ABSTRACT

This thematic paper is of 3 objectives, i.e. (1) to study the ideas of enhancing networks of tourism for peaceful communities; (2) to analytically study the network of tourism at Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram Province; and (3) to present the ways for enhancing networks of tourism in touring peaceful-communities.

From the study, it is found that the state of the network of the community touring at ‘Amphawa Floating Market’ is firstly done by the community itself; until there are some leaders joining the developing plan together with the creating of related communities by setting up and promoting various clubs, the Floating Market then becomes popular among the tourists, respectively.    Importantly, the significance of ‘Amphawa Floating Market’ is the touring in the aspect of conservation, drawing more tourists’ attractions.  Unfortunately, the culture of the original community is gardening with the skill in working alone rather than working in a group; therefore, the gathering of the community is not quite good even there are groups of community people set up for expressing opinions.         

 From interviewing the related people, it is found that the community of ‘Amphawa Floating Market’ has their own internal problems, i.e. the selfishness of the community members thinking of their own benefits more than others’, the lack of care for the natural resource led to the decline of tourists, and the lack of the co-ordination among the community members; plus, the problem from the outside capitalists who come in to seek for their benefits.  These problems affect the changes of the touring model in the Floating Market community.  Accordingly, the ways to enhance the network of the community are studied by the researcher to keep the balance in the 3 aspects of economy, societies, and environment; for instance, the creating of activities for relationship in order to promote conservatively cultural tourism through the support of the government, etc.

It is also found from the research study of the Dhammas in Buddhism that the use of Buddhist peaceful means by ‘the Six Sārānฺīyadhamma’, the Dhamma for fraternal or conciliation living, can help enhance the community network of ‘Amphawa Floating Market’ including other communities in order to further peacefully live together. 

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