Journal of Liberal Arts RMUTT

Culinary Cultural Capital of Trang Province: Connecting Community Identity to Tourism for Economic Value Added

Thanawit Piandee, Benjawan Khunrit, Pattera Thongom — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This article aims to 1) study and collect data of Trang's food cultural capital with potential for tourism promotion, and 2) propose guidelines for developing innovations from Trang's food cultural capital that can sustainably increase economic value. A qualitative research methodology was used, combining informal observation of consumer purchasing behavior, data collection of Trang's food cultural capital, and approaches to creating innovative food products. The population and sample consisted of government officials, academics with expertise in culture and tourism in Trang province, food and tourism business entrepreneur, and local communities representatives, totaling 30 people. An objective sampling method was used to select a sample group that could provide information relevant to the research and aligned with the research objectives. Key informants with knowledge and expertise in the research topic were identified. The research tools used were focus group discussions and collaborative critiques of innovative local food products that reflect the culture of Trang city and the data was analyzed by examining and verifying the reliability of the focus group discussion results using triangulation, followed by content analysis. The research findings indicate that Trang's food cultural capital has the potential to develop into food cultural tourism in 3 main dimensions: (1) Trang's food cultural heritage, (2) Trang's cultural identity and diversity, and (3) tourism experience potential. In terms of innovation development, it was found that it can be explained through the creative economy framework in 3 areas: (1) product innovation development, (2) tourism service and experience innovation, and (3) communication innovation, that reflects Trang's potential to develop community-based food tourism activities, moving from food products to multi-dimensional cultural experiences. This includes exploring culinary traditions and heritage, compiling stories connected to community life, and developing food innovations to create engaging food tourism experiences that meet tourist needs and generate sustainable income for the community.

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

Patanapong Pongtanee, Therdchai Choibamroong — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

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.

Tourism Potential Analysis and Development Strategy Design for Secondary Cities: A Case Study of Nakhon Phanom Province

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This study aims to: 1) analyze the tourism components of secondary cities in Nakhon Phanom Province; 2) evaluate the tourism potential of these secondary cities; and 3) propose strategic guidelines for tourism development in Nakhon Phanom Province. A qualitative research methodology was employed, incorporating document analysis, field surveys, and in-depth interviews using semi-structured instruments. The sample consisted of 20 key informants representing five sectors: public, private, local residents, civil society, and academia. The findings reveal that Nakhon Phanom possesses significant potential for religious and cultural tourism, with Phra That Phanom serving as a primary attraction. However, accessibility remains a challenge as the internal public transportation system is not yet comprehensive. Regarding facilities, public restrooms do not meet standard requirements, and promotional efforts remain insufficient. Furthermore, tourism programs and activities lack diversity, while ancillary services are concentrated only in major areas, resulting in inadequate safety oversight across all locations. The potential analysis indicates that Nakhon Phanom’s strengths lie in its religious and cultural assets. Weaknesses include fragmented public transportation, inadequate facilities, and a lack of clear integrated tourism routes and promotion. Opportunities arise from the growing trend of faith-based tourism and regional cooperation with neighboring countries. Conversely, threats include budgetary constraints, intense competition from adjacent provinces, shifting tourist behaviors, and global economic volatility. Recommended development strategies include establishing a distinct provincial identity as the “City of Faith along the Mekong,” fostering integrated public-private partnerships for systematic infrastructure investment—such as expanding transportation networks and elevating safety standards—developing digital platforms for tourism data integration and promotion, and enhancing human capital and administrative efficiency.

Development of Thai Japanese Style Scented Sachets Using Woven Krajood based on Thale Noi Community Wisdom, Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung Province

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

The weaving of Thale Noi grey sedge (Krajood) represents a profound cultural wisdom that embodies local identity. This qualitative research, conducted through a case study methodology, aims to examine the community context and the traditional wisdom of Krajood weaving in the Thale Noi community, and to propose guidelines for developing Thai aromatic sachet products from Thale Noi Krajood. Data were collected from 13 key informants, including community leaders, committee members, and consumers, through in-depth interviews and were subsequently analyzed using content analysis. The research findings reveal that while the Thale Noi community has long maintained a lifestyle deeply intertwined with Krajood resources in the wetlands, it currently faces a shortage of successors to inherit this traditional wisdom, leading to a decline in cultivation areas. Regarding the craft itself, the study identifies unique characteristics such as the process of coating Krajood strands with white clay and flattening them before weaving them into intricate patterns, such as the Luk Kaew and Dok Pikul motifs. This technique produces textiles with a soft texture, flexibility, and durability through two primary stages: material preparation and weaving. Furthermore, the researcher integrated local wisdom to develop Japanese-style Thai aromatic sachets, aimed at modernizing the image of Thai fragrance products for use as gifts and souvenirs while simultaneously bolstering the community economy. This development process involves five stages: floral preparation, scent blending, sachet preparation, packaging, and decoration. The study concludes with recommendations for the conservation of natural Krajood sources in the Thale Noi area, the creation of product differentiation through cultural fusion, and the establishment of a digital database to preserve specialized Krajood weaving techniques.

Legal Measures and Guidelines for Enhancing the Efficiency of Solar Power Installation and Generation Permitting Process in the Agricultural Sector of Sa Kaeo Province

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This study aims to study the current situation and potential for solar energy utilization, analyze the legal and regulatory factors affecting the permitting process for the installation solar energy systems and electricity generation from solar energy, investigate the attitudes, knowledge, understanding, and needs of the public regarding solar energy utilization and propose appropriate legal guidelines and measures to enhance the efficiency of the permitting process for community-level solar power installation and generation in the agricultural sector of Sa Kaeo Province. This research employed a mixed-methods approach, conducting in-depth interviews with 22 key stakeholders and collecting data from 364 respondents in Wang Nam Yen District, Sa Kaeo Province. The findings revealed that, despite the high potential of solar energy and its ability to reduce agricultural costs, the permitting process still faces limitations stemming from various laws. These include the Forest Act B.E. 2484 (1941), the Energy Business Act B.E. 2550 (2007) Sections 7 and 47, the Factory Act B.E. 2535 (1992), and the Building Control Act B.E. 2522 (1979) Section 8. These legal frameworks result in complex procedures, requiring coordination with multiple agencies, prolonged processing times, and high transaction costs. Quantitative data reflected that the public generally agreed with legal measures (mean = 3.86), while agreement on the positive impacts of solar energy utilization had a mean of 4.35, and government support measures had a mean of 4.29. Furthermore, 71.43% of respondents lacked knowledge regarding legal measures for solar energy and perceived the permitting process as complicated and time-consuming. This aligned with qualitative data, which indicated that the ambiguity of legal procedures and requirements was a significant factor causing public hesitation in initiating the process. The findings also highlighted the necessity for process reform alongside amendments to related laws. This aims to integrate procedures, reduce redundancy, enhance clarity regarding timelines and documentation, and upgrade structural support mechanisms. These include developing procedural manuals, establishing one-stop service centers, and enhancing legal knowledge among the public. All these measures are intended to increase the efficiency of the permitting process, making it faster, more transparent, and more conducive to implementation at the community level. This, in turn, will lead to legal, sustainable utilization of solar energy in the agricultural sector and tangible income distribution to the grassroots.

Applying Surface Strategy Taxonomy to Analyze Argumentative Writing Errors: A Case Study of Thai Undergraduates

Mongkolchai Tiansoodeenon, Napasri Suwanajote, Jeerasak Meesuksabai — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This study examines the grammatical errors at a word level and their underlying causes in argumentative essays written by Thai EFL undergraduates. This study employed a quantitative research design. The population was 98 third-year undergraduates enrolled in an argumentative writing course in the second semester of the 2026 academic year at the Faculty of Liberal Arts at the public university in central Thailand. The participants included 33 students selected through purposive sampling. The research instrument was the Surface Strategy Taxonomy (SST) collection form used to record students’ writing errors. The data were analyzed using frequency and percentage. The results revealed that misinformation was the most common error, followed by omission, addition, and misordering, respectively. Moreover, the causes of errors included intralingual errors such as overgeneralization, rule ignorance, and false hypotheses, as well as interlingual errors related to the "double subject" construction, which reflects confusion among Thai learners regarding direct syntactic transfer from Thai to the target language.

Relationship between Behaviors in Watching English Movies and English Listening Skill

Jariyaporn Tapin, Aram iamlaor — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This study aimed to: 1) survey the levels of English listening proficiency of the students majoring in English for Communication, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, 2) identify the students’ English movie watching behaviors, and 3) investigate the correlation between student’s behaviors in watching English movies and their levels of English listening proficiency. The participants of this study were 155 fourth-year students majoring in English for Communication, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, in the 2nd semester of the academic year 2025, selected by purposive sampling. A questionnaire was used as a research instrument. The content validity was verified by three experts with an IOC value ranging from 0.67 to 1.00. and pilot-tested with a reliability coefficient of 0.81 (Cronbach's alpha). The students’ English proficiency levels were determined based on their TOEIC listening scores, categorized according to the CEFR Mapping framework from A1 to C1 (C1 (Advanced): 490 – 495, B2 (Upper-Intermediate): 400 – 485, B1 (Intermediate): 275 – 395, A2 (Elementary): 110 – 270, A1 (Beginner): 60 – 105). The data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, and a chi-square test of independence. It was found that 1) the students’ English listening proficiency levels were at the A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1, respectively. 2) The majority of students (95.5%) watched English movies. Moreover, 46.6% of the students watched movies with Thai subtitles, 43.2% watched English movies 3-4 times a week, and most of them watched movies via streaming service. 3) There was a significant relationship between turning on subtitles when watching English movies and the students’ levels of English listening proficiency (χ² = 12.3, df = 12, p < 0.01), with students who used English subtitles tending to demonstrate higher listening proficiency levels than those who used Thai subtitles or without subtitles.