Abstract:
This research aimed to study history and culture, routes of Religious andcultural tourism, and impact of religious and cultural travel in the South East Region.
Data was collected by studying documents, observations, interviews and small groupdiscussions. Descriptive data analysis was used in the research.
The findings were as follows:
1. The word Southern Isaan refers to the provinces in the lowernortheastern region of Thailand. Its border is connected with the Mun River in the
Southeast, and dominated by the Dongrek mountain range the in the East. In thisland, there was a group of people who lived for a long time not less than 3,000 -4,500 years before the Khmer Empire and Sukhothai. This could be proved fromprehistoric paintings at Tham Khao Chan Ngam Temple, Sikhio District, NakhonRatchasima province and paintings at Pha Taem National Park, Khong Chiam District,Ubon Ratchathani province. The important cultures of the South Isan were originatedfrom four groups of people, namely; Khmer, Kui, Lao, and Thai Korat. Each group hasits own spoken language culture, namely; Khmer, Kui, Lao, and Thai Korat languaes.They led a simple way of life, preserving their languages and cultures.
2. Eight Religious and cultural tourism routes of five provinces in the SouthEast were selected as an example in the research. They were as follows; 1)SomdejPhra Phutthachan Foundation (To Phrom Raysang) and Phimai Historical Park inNakhon Ratchasima province 2) Phanom Rung Historical Park and Prasat Muang Tamin Buri Ram province 3) the temple of Khao Sala Atullathanajaro And Wat Pa Aiang(Elephant Mausoleum) in Surin Province 4) Wat Phrai Phatthana (Luang Pu Suang) inSi Sa Ket Province 5) Wat Sirindhorn Wanaram Phu Phrao in Ubon Ratchathaniprovince. Those temples and historical sites were related with religion and culture.
In the aspect of religion, there were tourist activities linked to religious elements,namely, Buddha images or idols, religious teaching, religious personnel, religiousplaces, and religious ceremonies. In the aspect of culture, there are tourism activitieslinked to cultural categories, namely, material, culture, morale, principle of life,ethics about law, and culture of social etiquette.
3. The impact of tourist behaviors caused the most positive impact toreligious and cultural attractions with a total average equal to 98.04 percent, as
following details; 1) general conditions of basic infrastructure i.e. sufficient, clean, andsafe bathroom, sufficient water supply, well telecommunication system, wellelectrics systems, and convenient transportation; 2) general conditions for buildingsi.e. orderly building, and beautiful tourism resources; 3) general conditions in placesand environments i.e. good waste management, safe and clean buildings, safe sittingarea, good services; 4) tourist behaviors towards religion ie. respectful to the Buddhaimage or the idol, the religious teaching, religious personnel, religious places andreligious ceremonies; 5) tourist behaviors towards culture, ie. usage four factorscorrectly according to dharma, practice in a good ethics according to a morality,complying with laws and prohibitions in morale, and social etiquette practicesaccording to the social norms.