Religious Tourism: A Case of Ganesha Wat Saman Rattanaram Chachoengsao Province

Abstract

This research aims to study the religious tourism model in Ganesha belief for the promotion and development of religious tourism in Thailand. Conducted research by collecting data from people who traveled and asked for blessings with Ganesha at Wat Saman Rattanaram, Chachoengsao Province. The non-probability sampling of 400 people was selected in April 2023 - May 2023. The results were summarized as follows.

          Buddhist tourism at Wat Saman Rattanaram, Chachoengsao Province in Thailand is a tourism in holy areas related to history and religion as part of cultural tourism. The highlight is the belief that coming to pay homage to holy things will bring prosperity to life, especially the worship Ganesha Pang lie to enjoy happiness will help remove obstacles and inspire success, provide food, use, live happily and eliminate problems.

          Field research found that Wat Saman Rattanaram is an important religious place of Buddhism where idols, amulets, talismans, and holy things outside of Buddhism are built. For worshiping Ganesha in which the god of Brahmanism-Hinduism, there are 94 percent of Thai Buddhists worshiping, which is more than any other group, 27 percent are under the age of 20, educational level lower than bachelor's degree 55 percent, and earning more than other groups, 10,000 - 30,000 baht, representing 32 percent.

          An interesting finding is that people who come to visit and worship Ganesha decide to choose the religious tourism because the attraction of the place is related to beliefs in both gods, holy things, astrology, colors, numbers, and rituals, including the beauty of the place and the value of the money used to travel, by traveling on weekends more than other groups. The important thing is that many Thai people came to travel and worship Ganesha at Wat Saman Rattanaram resulting in occupations that generate income for villagers, communities, and temples, such as selling flowers, joss sticks, and candles, selling desserts dedicated to Ganesha, leasing a Ganesha for worship, including creating many shops, making temples and communities develop rapidly.