Development Model of Buddhist Integration Enhancing Wellness Tourism Management

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to develop and propose a model of Buddhist integration enhancing wellness tourism management in Thailand. Documentary study was used for research design. Data were collected from P?li Canon and related research and academic articles. Content analysis and analytic induction were used for data analysis. Results indicated that a model of Buddhist integration enhancing wellness tourism management was developed and the Buddhist principle of Bhavana IV or the four developments was integrated which were composed of physical development, moral development, emotional development, and intellectual development including threefold training consisted of training in higher morality, training in higher concentration, and training in higher wisdom. The exogenous latent variables of public policy of tourism and elements of wellness tourism were composed. There were three endogenous latent variables namely 1) Buddhist integration, 2) holistic well-being, and 3) sustainable wellness tourism. All these latent variables within the causal model can be explained and developed sustainable wellness tourism in order to enhance 1) wellness health and good living, 2) participation for sustainable development and 3) environmental awareness. In addition, the target of model utilization was to make the balance of life, associated individual behavior and mindfulness to the natural environment, and sustainable society.