Supporting and Impeding Factors of Geo-Information System (GIS) Spatial Potential Analysis for Development of Cultural Tourism: A Case Study at Tamod District in Phattalung Provin

Abstract

This research aims to investigate supporting and impeding factors in Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial potential analysis for development of cultural tourism at Tamod District in Phattalung Province. The target group of this study are core team members, community leaders, and GIS users for spatial potential analysis to develop cultural tourism (n = 25). After GIS design was finished, authors studied supporting and impeding factors in GIS for spatial potential analysis for development of cultural tourism by employing semi-structured interview to obtain the data. The research findings revealed that the supporting factors in the development of GIS spatial potential analysis are external factor that is the governmental support, particularly technology, and budget, and internal factor that is the relationship between people in the community and personnel of organizations/groups in the community. The individual level factor is experience of tourism management. However, it was found that impeding factors in the development of cultural tourism are from both external and internal factors. The external factors are the lack of support from government sections, especially technology, budget, and knowledge. The internal factors are the lack of support from agencies, organizations/groups in the community and local agencies in the community.Hence, sustainability and efficiency of GIS for spatial potential analysis needs the collaboration from multi-sectors, because of the differences of readiness and limitation in each sector.