February 20-21, 2021 – A group of lecturers from the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Sciences, Khon Kaen University Nongkhai Campus comprising Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sakkarin Nonthaphot, the Project Head and his research team: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bangorn He-mang, Asst. Prof. Dr. Supattra Soyphet, Asst. Prof. Dr. Narumon Phewphuan and Dr. Sirikarn Suwanphu organized a seminar under the project entitled, “the development of border tourism at Phu Nong Community connecting the Trade Lenient Point in Sangkhom District, Nongkhai with Muang Sangthong, Vientiane”, which also featured a transfer of the outcomes of the research conducted with related sectors at the seminar. The research, an integrated cross-disciplinary study aimed at arranging research result activities as a return to the community, received the budget from the National Research Council, Fiscal year 2020. Mr. Anuwarat Chanai, Ban Muang Sub-district, Sangkhom District, presided over the opening ceremony. The seminar began from the conclusion of the research implementation, including the survey of plant varieties, media production, finding the local identity, designing local food specialties, developing accommodation, designing tour itinerary and programs, production of a footage on tourism spots. Then a trip was conducted to test the tourism routes to the 4 respective communities located around Phu Nong. The 2-days and 1-night trip was led by voluntary guides including the youth group, the working-age group and the elderly. There were also representatives from the government agencies, i.e., Nongkhai Office of Tourism and Sports, Nongkhai Cultural Office, and Nongkha Public Relation Office. There were 30 people joining the test trip. New tourism sports were introduced, namely, the upper Phan Khod Saen Khrai, which features Hin Tao and Hin Bong rocks, and Don Khon Khang in the middle of the Me Kong river connecting to Lao PDR. The participants had a chance to visit the newly opened organic Coffee and Cacao Garden by the river. Next, they were introduced to hardly found plant varieties and trying tea from Khrai Nam plant. In the evening, the group watched a footage on “Phy Mok”, a short film produced by the students of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Sciences. The film presents the tourism spots in the 4 communities around Phu Nong on a big screen on the bank of Nong Pla Buek. There were over 100 people watching the film. This event marked a new style of research study presentation and upgraded the workshop-based research outcomes as well as promoted the tourism around Phu Nong, Sangkhom District, Nongkhai Province.
News / Photos: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sakkarin Nonthaphot
News Writer: Anirut Sutthinan
