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Inclusive Tourism and Barrier-Free Design in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region

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Inclusive Tourism and Barrier-Free Design in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region CULTURAL HERITAGE ACROSS BORDERS: INCLUSIVE TOURISM AND BARRIER-FREE DESIGN IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUB-REGION By Budsakayt Intarapasan A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism (International Program) Graduate School SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY 2009 CULTURAL HERITAGE ACROSS BORDERS: INCLUSIVE TOURISM AND BARRIER-FREE DESIGN IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUB-REGION By Budsakayt Intarapasan A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism (International Program) Graduate School SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY 2009 The Graduate School, Silpakorn University has approved and accredited the Thesis title of “Cultural Heritage Across Borders: Inclusive Tourism and Barrier -Free Design in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region” submitted by Ms. Budsakayt Intarapasan as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism. ………………………………………………………… (Associate Professor Sirichai Chinatangkul, Ph.D) Dean of Graduate School ........../………………../………. The Thesis Advisor Professor William Chapman, Ph.D The Thesis Examination Committee …………………………………….. Chairman (Professor Emeritus Trungjai Buranasomphob, Ph.D) ........../………………../……… …………………………………….. Member (Associate Professor Kusuma Dhammadamrong) ........../………………../……… …………………………………….. Member (Professor William Chapman, Ph.D) ........../………………../……… 49056959: MAJOR: ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND TOURISM KEYWORDS: GREATER MEKONG SUB-REGION, CULTURAL HERITAGE, CROSS BORDERS, INCLUSIVE TOURISM, BARRIER-FREE DESIGN, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES BUDSAKAYT INTARAPASAN: CULTURE HERITAGE ACROSS BORDERS: INCLUSIVE TOURISM AND BARRIER-FREE DESIGN IN THE MEKONG SUB-REGION THESIS ADVISOR: PROF. WILLIAM CHAPMAN, Ph.D. 414 pp This paper will, using regional the Greater Mekong Sub-Region case studies, highlight gaps in current regional heritage practices in respect of: heritage and development of heritage trails, revenue, the anchoring of tourist revenue, and development of the public consciousness of history. This paper describes cultural heritage tourism, according to the traveling to experience places and activities that authentically represent stories and people of the past and present. Inclusive Tourism is a global movement to ensure the full social participation of all people with disabilities in travel, citizenships, and cultural contribution and in the process, to assure the same for everyone else, writes Dr. Scott Rains. The discussion issues related accessible tourism to cultural heritage places to identify existing barriers as well as assessments and solutions approach to promote cultural-heritage-inclusive tourism and barrier-free design. More important access increases the potential to enable people with disabilities to take part in almost any area of life, and to be aware of the impact and business opportunities that accessible tourism introduces. The forthcoming process of demographic ageing will lead to a growing number of tourists with needs for more accessibility and higher service quality also in tourism. The result of this study will provide guidelines on better practices of community engagement, community participation and community resource development in respect of the culturally appropriate management of heritage. In conclusion, good design improves accessibility for all users who may benefit from tourism services without discriminating factors. To ensure balanced recognition of the users’ interests, conservation planning is deemed necessary to eliminate disabled access. Access for all heritage areas is provided equally to all types of user who want to enjoy and appreciate leisure in a friendly environment depicting distinctive traditions. Universal design which offers equal accessibility to all types of user aims to upgrade heritage places and raise awareness on the significance and value of cultural heritage as well as inclusive travel and leisure holidays at an international level. Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism Graduate School, Silpakorn University Academic Year 2009 Student’s signature ……………………………..…………………………………………………………………………….…. Thesis Advisor’s signature …………………………….………………………………………………….………………………. c Acknowledgements This dissertation could not have been written without supports of many individuals to whom I want to express my deepest appreciation. This is the end of my long journey in obtaining my degree in the study of international relations; I have not traveled in a vacuum in this journey. There are some people who made this journey easier, with words of encouragement, and more intellectually satisfying by suggesting and offering different places to expand my theories and ideas. I would like to express my gratitude to all who gave me the possibility to complete my doctoral research on this dissertation. First, very sincere thanks go to my supervisor, Prof. William Chapman, Ph.D, for his stimulating suggestions and encouragement that helped me during the whole process of research and writing of this dissertation. He taught me how to ask questions and express ideas. Meanwhile, he showed me different ways to approach research problems and the need to be persistent to accomplish any goal. Apart from the subject of my research, I have learnt a lot from him which I am sure to be useful for my life. Also, special thanks go to my co-advisor, Assoc. Prof. Kusuma Dhammadamrong who is most responsible for helping me complete the writing of this dissertation as well as the challenging research that lies behind it. And I would like to express my gratitude to the other members of my thesis advisory committee, Prof. Emeritus Trungjai Buranasomphob, Ph.D, for her continuous supports in the doctoral program. Second, I take this opportunity with much pleasure to thank all the people, colleagues and friends, who have helped me through the course of my journey towards the accomplishment of this dissertation. Last but not least, I would like to thank my family for their ongoing love and support. My family has always been a long lasting source of inspiration and encouragement during this exhaustive research. I could never leave out my thanks to Mr. Urs Markus Minder, who contributed his care and kindness for supporting not only as a personal delight but also as invaluable help. I could not have finished this dissertation. He was always there to meet and talk about my ideas, proofread and mark up my papers and chapters, and ask me good questions that help me think through my problems. Many people deserve thanks and appreciations for this dissertation. As it would be impossible to thank each individual, please accept this acknowledgement as a token of my deep appreciations. Thanks for all you have done for me. Budsakayt INTARAPASAN, January 2010 d Table of Contents Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... c Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... d List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... h List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... s Chapter 1 Introduction and research Methodology................................................................. 1 Introduction........................................................................................................ 1 Background ....................................................................................................... 1 Statements of problem and objective ................................................................ 4 Research design framework and methodology ................................................. 5 Hypothesis ......................................................................................................... 10 Participant in the study ...................................................................................... 10 2 Literature review of principles, policies and practices ............................................ 13 Introduction........................................................................................................ 13 Cultural heritage across borders ....................................................................... 15 The concept of cultural heritage ................................................................ 15 Cultural heritage across borders ............................................................... 30 Character of the Mekong River physical features ..................................... 34 Description of the geographical area ........................................................ 40 Socio-the Greater Mekong Sub-Region ............................................................ 59 Socio-Economic Programs ....................................................................... 59 Socio-Sacred ..................................................................................................... 76 Type of sacred setting ............................................................................... 76 Holiness .................................................................................................... 77 Sacred
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