Interpreting Cultural Heritage for Non-Thai Visitors in Hat Siao Community, Sukhothai Province, Thailand

Abstract

This research is aimed to verify cultural identities and evaluate existing heritage resources of the community, to identify non-Thai visitors’ characteristics, expectations and acquire experiences and to develop effective cultural heritage interpretations for cross-cultural visitors in Hat Siao community. Both primary and secondary data were collected in a combination of research methods from December, 2014 to June, 2018. The literature review and documentation research were collected as the secondary data while field observations, questionnaires, in-depth interviews and a focus group were collected as the research primary data. Although cultural heritage resources in Hat Siao community embrace all aspects of the Burra Charter, its existing conditions which evaluated by the dimensions of authenticity from Hoi An Protocols has been changed by various forces. Nonetheless the non-Thai visitors in the community were from different demographic and psychographic groups, their expectations to visit Hat Siao community were largely for learning rather than having leisure experiences. Unfortunately, their experience to learn about the community cannot be fulfilled by the available heritage interpretation. Heritage interpretation is recognized as crucial tools to promote and conserve cultural heritage of Hat Siao community while improving visitors’ deeper learning experiences, providing them feel appreciate and engage their senses of heritage protection. To develop effective interpretation, the community should put more focus on emerging the key messages for cross-cultural visitors and find channels to transmit the messages to foreign visitors through off-site and on-site interpretation.