The Continuance New Year tradition for Promoting Cultural Tourism of Thai Hill tribe Ethnic Groups Khlong Lan District in Kamphaeng Phet Province

Abstract

The research aimed to study the continuance of New Year tradition for promoting cultural tourism on Thai hill tribe ethnic groups of Khlong Lan District in Kamphaeng Phet province. The key informants were six ethnic groups and government section. The research was a qualitative Study which used interpretation paradigm, using interview, focus group discussion, and participant observation. Data analysis and presentation of data based on ethnographic research. The results identified that New Year tradition of all hill tribe ethnic groups were; with the ethnic Hmong “Nor-Pejo” (น่อเป๊โจ่วฮ์) or “Kin-Samsip” (celebration on the New Year’s day) to hearten, respect to the ancestors, celebration, singing songs, local playing, sports competition, local sweet making competition, and throwing a ball for welcoming; with the ethnic Mien “Jia Xiang Hing” (เจี๋ย เซียง เหฮียง) on Chinese New Year, praying and blessing for the further year. Celebration by youth’s showing on stage, and Mien’s speech competition; with the ethnic Lisu “Kho-Oia” (โข่เซยี่ย) on Chinese New Year,  respect their ancestors or worship ghost, merit making at the shrine, God’s blessing and elders, singing, playing music and Jakue dancing; with the ethnic Karen or called Pakakayor “Nee Sor Ko” (นี่ซอโค่) or the New Year in January after harvesting, eating new rice, doing heartening and wrist tying ceremony to their children, celebration, with the ethnic Lua, the tradition on Songkran festival just like Buddhism, merit making and watering to the alms elderly blessing, with the ethnic Lahu “Kor-Jao-Wae” (เขาะเ0จ๊0า0เ0ว0)0 0o0r0 0N0e0w0 0Y0e0a0r0 0o0f0 0e0a0t0i0n0g0 0n0e0w0 0r0i0c0e0 0i0n0 0D0e0c0e0m0b0e0r0 0t0o0 0g0i0v0e thanks to the God, Jakue dancing to respect the God, elderly blessing, joining Jakue dance, celebration, playing sports, archery or crossbow, running trestle, Saba, throwing gyroscopes, tug of war game, and putting water into the bamboo tubes game. Offered ways of continuation of traditional New Year in tourism of narration and then practicing, establishment of museum center, cultural activities, and exhibition of equipment for living us hill tribe cultural center. These led to the promotion and campaign ethnic annul to the youth’s awareness on the cultural value and improving the New Year’s tradition, Moreover, the tourism information should be created to the outside for welcoming on New Year’s tradition and promoting sustainable cultural tourism, and lastly, the culture and tradition should be kept, storing history and identities, both by the tourism management and by the communities and expression on the culture and tradition for accepting and understanding on the differences by the tourists.