GUIDELINES FOR PROMOTING TOURISM FOLLOWING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF FRENCH COLONIAL EXPLORERS IN THE PHRA THAT PHANOM AREA NAKHON PHANOM PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article has the following objectives : 1) To study historical and cultural tourist attractions following in the footsteps of French colonial explorers in the Phra That Phanom area, That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province 2) To study the current condition of historical and cultural tourist attractions following in the footsteps of French colonial explorers in the Phra That Phanom area, That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province 3) To propose guidelines for managing historical and cultural tourism following in the footsteps of French colonial explorers in the Phra That Phanom area, That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province. The research results are as follows :1. Historical and cultural tourist attractions following in the footsteps of French explorers during the colonial era in South East Asia area: Phra That Phanom, That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province. Etienne Aymonier, French explorer, discovered archeological sites,ancient objects and stone inscriptions in the Phra That Phanom area on January 19, 1883. He recorded general matters of Nakhon Phanom province: natural resources, topography, traditions and culture, population, occupation and trade. 2. Current condition of historical and cultural tourist attractions following in the footsteps of French colonial explorer in Phra That Phanom area, That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province, showed art style and unique characteristics  in line with moral, traditional and local beliefs; Animism such as ancestral spirits respect and house ghosts worship, these mentioned activities are to protect and to preserve community's calmness and religious values. Thus, art and tradition forms have been variously and contineously created since prehistoric era, Dvaravati era, ancient Khmer era, Khom and Cham, and finally Lan Chang era. Tourist attraction problem has been realized that lack of public relations and advertising via social media  lack of artistic knowledge of community historical sites exist. Tourism promotion activities follow government policies. Main responsibilities do not depend on community leaders but rather on government officials. The creative tourism route project has not only been promoted but also the Travel route following in the footsteps of French explorer has not been included in the project: monastery, archaeological sites, ancient objects and traditional wisdom. 3. Guidelines for promoting historical and cultural tourist attractions following in the footsteps of colonial explorer in Phra That Phanom area, That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province, the participation of the entire government sector, private sector and stakeholders in Nakhon Phanom province is essential to cooperate, to promote, to support and to participate in integrated tourism management for the propose of  developing to be  sustainable historical and cultural tourist attractions further in the future.