GUIDELINES FOR UPGRADING TOURISM POTENTIALS IN SECONDARY CENTRAL CITIES TO SUPPORT THAI MUSLIM TOURISTS GROUP

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to study the Muslims’ motivation affecting the tourism need in the secondary central cities of Thailand to support Thai Muslim tourists group, and 2) to study the upgrading of tourism potentials in the secondary central cities to support Thai Muslim tourists group. This research was a mixed method research carried out by quantitative and qualitative research approach. The population was Thai Muslim tourists travelling in the secondary central cities of Thailand, which included, Chainat, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkram, Lopburi, Singburi, and Ang Thong province. The samples were 384 persons. The instrument used was questionnaires, and the statistics used were Frequency, Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation, and Multiple Regression. The informants included 7 authorities working in the Tourism Authority of Thailand in the 7 provinces of secondary central cities. The data were collected by in-depth-interview.
The research result revealed as follows: 1) the Muslims’ motivation affecting the tourism need the most were the price, secondly was the tax deduction policy, and food, 2) the guidelines for upgrading the tourism potentials in the central secondary cities which should focus were the problems and obstacles relating to the tourists, suitable environments and resources, tourism activities promotion, tourism marketing promotion to become ASEAN Center, and the upgrading of social participation.