Defining the Distinctiveness of Urban Heritage Identity: Chiang Mai Old City, Thailand

Phetsuriya, Natthakit; Heath, Tim

Abstract

Distinctiveness is a fundamental part of defining place identity. This paper aims to define the identity of place through the distinctiveness of the urban heritage of Chiang Mai Old City, Thailand. Chiang Mai Old City has unprecedented levels of diversity and a cultural dynamics related to its intangible and tangible urban heritage. Moreover, the city is in the important stage of being nominated as a new World Heritage Site of UNESCO, with the city’s distinctiveness being significant in supporting further heritage management strategies. The research presented in this paper mainly focuses on how local people interpret and understand the urban heritage identity of Chiang Mai Old City. This has been achieved through surveys of four hundred participants who live in the Old City and a two-way focus group with five participants in each group. The results provide seven aspects to describe the distinctiveness of Chiang Mai Old City. Moreover, the results can also be used to develop an assessment indicator for defining the distinctiveness of other cities through the engagement of local people.

Citation

Phetsuriya, N., & Heath, T. (2021). Defining the Distinctiveness of Urban Heritage Identity: Chiang Mai Old City, Thailand. Social Sciences, 10(3), Article 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10030101

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 11, 2021
• Publication Date: Mar 11, 2021
• Deposit Date: Apr 28, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 28, 2021
• Journal: Social Sciences
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: 101
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10030101
• Keywords: urban heritage identity; distinctiveness; Chiang Mai
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5501287
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/10/3/101/htm