The Adverse Impacts of Excessive Commercialization of Religious Culture on Thailand: A Study Centered on Thai Buddhism

Abstract

This study examines the adverse impacts of excessive commercialization on Thai Buddhist temples through a qualitative investigation of six temples across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Employing cultural commodification theory, the research constructs a three-dimensional analytical framework encompassing spatial reconstruction, temporal reallocation, and functional transformation to analyze how commercial logic fundamentally alters temples’ socio-cultural nature. Based on in-depth interviews with 62 stakeholders including monks, devotees, vendors, and temple administrators, the findings reveal systematic impacts: spatial conflicts between tourist and religious activities were highly frequent (48/62), disruption of traditional religious rhythms was widely reported (51/62), and declining interest among young monks in religious education was moderately observed (35/62). The research demonstrates that when commercial logic supersedes religious logic as the dominant operational principle, temples undergo fundamental transformation from sacred spaces to tourist attractions, resulting in the separation of ritual form from content, marginalization of devotees, and disruption of cultural transmission mechanisms. The study proposes differentiated management strategies including temple classification systems, designated devotee hours, and cultural protection funds to balance economic benefits with religious preservation.