An Assessment of Cultural Resource Potential for Tourism Development: A Case Study of Koh Perd Fishing Village, Laem Sing District, Chanthaburi Province

Abstract

This study aims to 1) evaluate the potential of cultural resources for tourism development in Koh Perd fishing village; 2) investigate the influence of demographic characteristics on the assessment of cultural resource potential; and 3) provide policy recommendations for the enhancement of cultural tourism in Koh Perd fishing village. A quantitative study methodology was utilized, employing questionnaires to gather data from a sample of 400 Thai tourists visiting Koh Perd fishing village. The data were examined utilizing descriptive statistics, comprising mean and standard deviation, alongside inferential statistics, particularly One-way ANOVA and the Brown-Forsythe test. The results demonstrate that visitors perceive the value of cultural resources as the paramount attribute (𝑥̅= 3.75), followed by authenticity (𝑥̅= 3.65) and aesthetics (𝑥̅= 3.59). Conversely, the aspect of identity and uniqueness exhibited a moderate mean score, suggesting that while the cultural resources in the region hold intrinsic value, initiatives for awareness-building and image communication are inadequately clear and distinctive, potentially impeding the community’s capacity to attract tourism and investment. Hypothesis testing indicated that hometown (Sig. = 0.000), and the source of information regarding the place (Sig. = 0.040) significantly influenced the evaluation of cultural resource potential. Policy proposals should prioritize enhancing the area’s identity via online platform to attract tourists. Furthermore, fostering community engagement in the preservation of traditional lifestyles is essential for enhancing the sustainability of the tourism destination and ensuring the ongoing transmission of cultural heritage. In addition, it is essential to undertake initiatives aimed at cultivating a unique destination image to foster perceptual differentiation and to alleviate the impacts of cultural familiarity among visitors from the Eastern region.