Abstract:
The purposes of this research were to 1) investigate current management of the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam conducted by government and community, 2) analyze present role and community participation in the management of the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam, and 3) summarize problems and factors affecting the management of the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam to provide integrated resolutions towards the management of the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam through the community participation. This study included both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Persons were units of analysis while the secondary data was used as main research tools. Besides, interview forms were also utilized to interview with concerning people. Then, the data was analyzed to define the role and community participation in the management of the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam. This area had been discovered during 1984-1989. After that, regarding to government policy, the management was established in 2001. However, the operation was not discontinuous due to non-integrated cooperation. Each department might have similar targets and it was difficult for the people to join the management. There was less community participation due to lack of knowledge and understanding on the management. The result was concluded from the data obtained from the field work and interview with the concerning respondents, both in the government and community sectors, on the management and participation of the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam. It indicated that the management of the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam was complicated because the responsibilities of each department were still divided without any integration applied to the management. In aspect of the historic site, it was under control of Fine Arts Department whereas fundamental structure was under control of local administration and district. Moreover, the people were sometimes allowed to participate into policy formation and activities held in the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam. It had to wait to transfer the management to the local administration for easier management. On the contrary, to the private sector, a local association was set up but it had no significant role because of large area of Kum Kam community and several overlapping areas. Even though there was certain community participation, the people could not be able to take part in the management because there was no any central agent to serve as a leader to direct such sophisticated management. Hence, some suggestions were provided in this study for better integrated management in the ancient town Wiang Kum Kam which might be useful for the government and private sectors to stimulate the local people to realize and preserve remaining resource. Furthermore, these recommendations would be beneficial for more effective management and participation in the future.