National heritage and global tourism in Thailand

This article examines the relevance of Thailand's heritage attractions to both international and domestic tourism. It also analyzes the state tourism agency's promotion of heritage and the ideological implications of heritage sightseeing in relation to the official historical narrative. Despite the present emphasis on cultural tourism, heritage is still of marginal significance for international visitors; yet, it constitutes a major attraction for the expanding domestic tourism sector. Study data are interpreted within the context of Thailand's cultural and social change. The increase of privately managed heritage attractions, at the end, is seen as a potential challenge to state-sanctioned definitions of national history and identity.