Crafts and Folk Art Tourism Development in Chiang Mai Towards UNESCO Creative Cities Network Membership

The purposes of research were 1) to survey resources and to create a location map of crafts and folk art communities in Chiang Mai Province; 2) to assess tourism potential and readiness of community capital as creative tourist attractions in Chiang Mai Province; 3) to propose the guidelines for the model craft community development in Chiang Mai towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism; and 4) to propose the guidelines for the development of community and network management towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism. This research was a mixed method study by using the qualitative study method for collecting the data from interview, focused group, and participatory and non-participatory observation; and the quantitative method for collecting the data from a questionnaire according to the study objectives. The study results are presented in a descriptive form and are summarized as follows. 1) Survey on resources and creation of a location map of crafts and folk art communities in Chiang Mai Province- The distinctive resources in crafts and local art of each community are classified into 7 categories- 1) pottery and casting work, 2) fabric and embroidery, 3) wood carving and products, 4) basketry, 5 paperwork, 6) metal embossment, and 7) lacquerware. The locations of the craft communities in Chiang Mai are in 3 areas- 1) location in Chiang Mai City (inner area of the city wall), 2) location near Chiang Mai City (outer area of the city wall), and location far from Chiang Mai City (outer area of Mueang District). 2) Assessment on tourism potential and readiness of community capital for being creative tourist attractions in Chiang Mai Province- The overall result of all 4 aspects in tourism potential and readiness of community capital as creative tourist attractions in Chiang Mai Province was found at the high level (x = 3.69). In each aspect, the highest mean was in management (x = 3.79), followed by cultural identity (x = 3.78), creative entrepreneurs (x = 3.62), and space and facility (x = 3.56) respectively. 3) Proposed guidelines for the model craft community development in Chiang Mai Province towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism- The guidelines for the model craft community development towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism consist of 4 factors. 4) Proposed guidelines for the development of community and network management towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism- The model for the development of community and network management towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism is known as “POLC of CM CREATION Model”.