BO SANG UMBRELLA VILLAGE

Group No. 4

History of Umbrella

 Approximately two hundred years ago there was a monk named Pra Inthaa who had taken holy orders at Wat Bo Sang on one occasion the monk went north dose to Burma and stayed for many years. One day while the monk was taking his morning meal, a Burmese inclined to make merit, brought an umbrella to offer to the monk because he had seen that the monk did not have one which caused difficulties. When he went to the place in Burma where umbrellas were made the monk saw the villagers making umbrellas which could protect the user from both sunshine and rain.

History of Umbrella

After the monk had made his observations, he wrote down everything concerning the Method of making umbrellas, form the method of making Saa (mulberry) paper to the various steps in umbrella making. When he was finished he had it in mind to take the instructions and make umbrellas at home as he saw that the various equipment needed for the process from the beginning to the end would not be difficult to obtain.

History of Umbrella

After that, the monk returned home. When he returned to the wat (temple), the monk began looking for the various necessary equipment according to what he had written down. He persuaded the villagers to help him in his search and taught then every step of the method He then instructed the man to use lengths of cotton cloth as a mold. The monk chose women to be responsible for Saa paper. When people from other villages came and saw the umbrellas Bo Sang’s name became known somewhat more. The villagers of Bo Sang should remember the monk's benevolence that he brought this art form to become a vital occupation up to the present. It is all a result of the foresight and wisdom of Luang Por Inthaa which cannot be forgotten.

General Characteristics

As part of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, the village has its own unique character demonstrated by its beautiful temples, fertile rice fields, traditional Northern houses, and by the simple way of life of its villagers.

General Characteristics

Bo Sang Umbrella Village is famous for its traditional Thai umbrellas and other handicrafts such as . Bo Sang umbrellas and parasols are now renowned worldwide as artistic masterpieces, as confirmed by winning the "Best Souvenir" prize at the International Tourism Seminar held in Los Angeles, USA.

General Characteristics

Bo Sang Umbrella Village was originally a small village where generations of villagers were engaged in handicraft production and trading of silk and cotton umbrellas and paper parasols for over two centuries. The Bo Sang Umbrella Village has been increasingly popular among tourists who are able to view demonstrations of how umbrellas are made, assembled and painted, and who can also buy umbrellas for personal use and as souvenirs. Customized painting is also available at many of the shops.

Details of products

Umbrellas Fans Other handicrafts such as  paper lamps, bamboo

products, etc. Festivals and events Cultural-based tourism

The umbrella making procedures The paper making process, using bamboo or mulberry

pulp. The cutting of bamboo for the umbrella skeleton. The making of the umbrella skeleton. The adding of the paper to the skeleton The hand painting and finishing of the umbrella.

Where to see umbrella making process

Sa Paper & Umbrella Handicraft Centre111/2 Bo Sang, Chiang Mai 50131.Hrs. 08:00-17:00

    

Festivals & Events 

Bo Sang Umbrella & Sankampang Handicrafts Festival

Takes place 20th-22nd January in 2012 and the festival will be held annually in the third week of January each year at Ban Bo Sang, Sankampang. The festival is in the form of a "street fair" in which the central road of the village is used, with shops on both sides. Shops are decorated in Lanna style, most with the well-known umbrellas, as well as with traditional lanterns. In addition there are contests, exhibitions, cultural performances, local entertainment and assorted shows day and night. There is a grand procession decorated with umbrellas and local products, a variety of handicrafts for sale, northern-style Kan-toke meals and the Miss Bo Sang pageant.

Bo Sang Umbrella & Sankampang Handicrafts Festival

The best time to visit

You can visit Bo Sang Umbrella Village at any time in any season but the best time to visit the village is in the third week of January, during the annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival. The approximately one kilometer length of road in the village is finely decorated with items from the shops on both sides of the road: colorful umbrellas, traditional lanterns, and products from mulberry paper can be seen everywhere. This is the best time to buy world renowned umbrellas at special discounts from the retailers.

Location of the village

Bo Sang Umbrella Village is located nine kilometers east of Chiang Mai on the Chiang Mai - Sankampaeng Road which is one of the village in Sankampaeng District.

How to get there?

By car : From Chiang Mai City, take Chiang Mai - Sankampaeng Rd., and turn left on to Bo Sang - Doi Saket Rd. The entrance to the village is only a few meters from the intersection.

By public transportation : White Song-thaew at the flower market on the west bank of the Ping River make the 15-20min. trip regularly during the day (20฿), as do those at the Chuang Phuak bus station (20฿).

Factory and shop open daily 8:30am-5pm.

Contact info.

For more information, please contact: Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chiang Mai OfficeTel: +66 (0) 5324 8604 , (0) 5324 8607      Fax: +66 (0) 5324 8605E-mail: tatchmai@tat.or.th

Strength

The village is located in perfect location because it is only 9 kms far from the Chiang Mai town. Therefore, tourists can get to the village very easy and convenient by their own cars or local transportations. Moreover, the village’s infrastructure such as road and village’s facilities such as restaurants, souvenir shops, accommodations , public toilet, the parking areas are improved by the government, local governor and local entrepreneurs to accommodate and satisfy tourists in order to earn more money.

The benefits from other tourist attractions such as the hot spring, silk route and the Mueng On Cave that the tourist would stop on the way to visit the village or to buy a souvenir before they reach their destinations or when they go back to their homes.

Strength

The authenticity, uniqueness, fineness and quality of products because they were produced in the village for more than two hundreds years by the local people who have the expert skills in making each product. The products present the cultural heritage, folk intellectual, local wisdom as well as lifestyle of local people and the skills of making products are transferred from generation to generation.

Strength

The reputation of products as the symbol of village, province, region and international level because it won the “ Best Souvenir” prize at the International Tourism Seminar held in Los Angeles, USA.

The variety of products that the village produces many different types of handicrafts.

The affordable price because the local resources are used to make the products.

There are always festivals, exhibitions and campaigns to promote and generate more money.

The professionals in creating and in enhancing the quality of the products.

Weakness

The lack of staff who making local products in the cultivated and harvested seasons. Moreover, the new generation have no interest in working for community business anymore because of the globalization and modern time so, they will focus on the better job.

The lack of good leaderships, networking, certain system of the organization and promotion.

There is new entrepreneur in surrounding areas of the village try to imitate the products so, the price of products will be reduced naturally.

Weakness

The devaluation of product’s authenticity because of the expansion of the market place and the increasing of products’ numbers so, the tourists can buy products wherever they want to buy as the general souvenirs then the value of the product will decrease naturally.

The decreasing of the village’s charm and attraction because tourists don’t have to go to the village to get the local products anymore.

The lack of creative packaging, designs, styles and the quality of products because the entrepreneurs only want to produce as many as products they can to get more profit without considering about the creative and the quality and fineness of products.

Weakness

The weakness of using local resources and the appropriate management in order to maintain the local culture and sustain the natural environment.

The lack of marketing strategy knowledge and experience because most entrepreneurs are local people so, they don’t know enough about the marketing strategies and how to launch business successfully.

Recommendations

To encourage the local entrepreneurs or any relevant organizations to consider about authenticity of products in order to retain the product’ s uniqueness and symbols. Moreover, the buildings, souvenir shops or local houses should keep the cultural heritage and the lifestyle of local community to attract more tourists. It’s a best way to distinguish the village itself from others.

To create or design product’s package and styles to become more fashionable, flexible and variety according to the world’s trend but still need to maintain the authenticity and value of the products.

To create more activities that foreign tourists can join more such as the international Northern Trade fair at Bo Sang Umbrella Village to sell the local products and other Northern products because the tourists will have more choice to buy according to their desires and interests.

Recommendations

To corporate more with TAT and the government because both of them have the authorize to launch campaign and to promote and encourage more tourists in both domestic and international levels.

To consider more about the local benefits and the tourism impacts on local culture and natural environment while satisfying the tourist’s travel experiences.

Recommendations

To expand and add more information about the Bo Sang Umbrella Village on the internet, websites, brochures to get more tourists to visit the village but try not to provide all information because when tourists know the whole information about the place then they will not have desire to make a visit and no interest to discover the area anymore. Moreover, the expansion can build the recognize about the area for people who don’t know about the place before.

Lists of References

Northern Thailand Bo Sang. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.letsgo.com/14020-thailand-travel-guides-northern_thailand-daytrips_from_chiang_mai-bo_sang-c

Bo Sang Umbrella Festival 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2011/01/15/bo-sang-umbrella-festival/

Umbrellas and Sa Paper in Chiang Mai. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.chiangmai1.com/products/umbrellas_sa_paper.shtml

Absolute Thai Magazine 19. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://issuu.com/absolutethai/docs/absolute-thai-magazine-19

Bo Sang's paper parasols. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/201201136973/bo-sang-umbrella-festival-thailand/

Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.chiangmaitouristguide.com/01-2009/feature3.html

Bo Sang Umbrella Village Chiang Mai. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.chiangmaiumbrella.com/about.php

Umbrella Homestay San kamphaeng Chiang Mai, Thailand Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.chiangmaihomestay.com/umbrella_homestay.php

History of Bo Sang . Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.borsangresidence.com/about_borsang_en.asp

Members of group

Mr. Chanapon Cheewasotsakul ID.52623433004

Mr. Thawatchai Suebviset ID.52623433007

Ms. Radtiyakorn Khampong ID.52623433011

Mr. Warit Sutthisri ID.52623433014

Ms. Wanida Phoothongkan ID.52623433019