ABSTRACT
Phimai, an urban heritage area, is located about 300 kilometers from Bangkok in Northeast Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province. Historically, Phimai was a trade center and an important gateway from the Moon River basin to Cambodia and to towns in the Chao Phraya River basin. It was part of the Khmer Empire for several centuries. Presently, Phimai is seen as both a tourist destination and an important model of economic development. However, visitor experiences, interpretation of resources, and tourist impact on heritage resources are still the important issues for Phimai with respect to sustainable development.
