On 12 January 2026, the Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability Office, Khon Kaen University (KKU), led by Professor Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability, and her working team, attended a consultative meeting. Mr. Prajuab Jitkuma, Deputy District Chief and Head of Administrative Affairs (Acting District Chief of Phu Phaman District, Khon Kaen Province), graciously presided over the opening of the meeting at the Phu Phaman District Office Meeting Room, Khon Kaen Province.
The discussion focused on defining strategic directions and implementation guidelines for sustainable community development by systematically integrating tourism, the local economy, and community identity, in alignment with the district’s inherent potential and development context.
During the session, Professor Thidarut Boonmars presented a proposed strategy for developing a tourism route connecting Khon Kaen city with Phu Phaman District. The initiative includes the creation of communication media and distinctive community products designed to enhance tourism appeal, generate added economic value, and promote equitable income distribution within the community. She emphasised the role of Khon Kaen University as a key knowledge hub that supports local development through continuous collaboration with government, private sector, and community partners.
In parallel, Assistant Professor Kham Chaturongkakul from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University, presented concepts for designing community identity media and products. This involved integrating knowledge of arts, culture, history, and local practices to create product prototypes from local materials that distinctly reflect the community’s identity. Furthermore, this approach promotes tourism that prioritises balancing social, cultural, and environmental considerations in the long term.
The meeting received strong cooperation from multiple partner agencies, including the Khon Kaen Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, the Khon Kaen Provincial Agricultural Office, the Khon Kaen Provincial Community Development Office, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (Khon Kaen Office), Phu Phaman District, and the Phu Phaman Sub-district Municipality. All parties agreed on the significance of developing distinctive community products as a critical mechanism for promoting tourism, generating income, and sustainably raising the quality of life for the local population.
This initiative reflects Khon Kaen University’s concrete commitment to advancing community development in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By promoting employment, income generation, and creative tourism grounded in effective resource utilisation and strong territorial cooperation, the project demonstrates an integrated development model linking the University, government agencies, and local administrative organisations to achieve long-term sustainable outcomes for the Phu Phaman community.
