Guidelines for Tourism Promoting of the Checkpoint for Border Trade Between Thailand and Laos: A Case Study at Chong Ta U, Buntharik District, Ubon Ratchathani

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to 1) study the context of checkpoint for border trade between Thailand and Lao PDR at Chong Ta U, Buntharik district, Ubon Ratchathani province, 2) study the potential of tourism at the checkpoint border trade, at Chong Ta U, Buntharik district, Ubon Ratchathani province, and 3) investigate the guidelines for tourism promoting of the checkpoint for border trade at Chong Ta U, Buntharik district, Ubon Ratchathani province. The sample groups in this study comprised 5 participants from 5 state organizations, 20 participants from the leaders/the villagers, and 260 tourists. Data were collected by a survey and interview. Statistics used in this research were percentage, mean, standard deviation, and content analysis. Research results were presented as descriptive model. The research results showed that the general conditions of checkpoint for border trade between Thailand and Laos at Chong Ta U, Buntharik district, Ubon Ratchathani province, was in the responsible of the Buntharik-Yodmon Wildlife Sanctuary, Protected Area Regional Office 9 (Ubon Ratchathani). It was 14 kilometers far from the city of Buntharik district. Chong Ta U border trading was informally opened since 1992 with regards to the agreement between Buntharik district and Soukhouma city, Champasak province, Lao People's Democratic Republic. After that Chong Ta U border trading was open according to Ubon Ratchathani provincial announcement since 1996. Nowadays, the border open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 09.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., (2) Considering tourism potential of the border trading at Chong Ta U, Ubon Ratchathani, it was found that the border had intermediate potentiality from examining strength, weakness, and the tourists’ satisfaction to the tourist attractions, tourism services, and tourism marketing, (3) The guidelines for tourism promoting of the border trading, Chong Ta U were (3.1) Tourist attraction issues should be improved the infrastructure and the Thailand’s trade marketing to enhance the trading and had adequate facilities, (3.2) Tourism services should be improved the public transportation, communication systems, and facilities, (3.3) Tourism marketing should be improved the public relations, trading and tourism enhancing plan for border trading at Chong Ta U and, setting the events for introduction of border trading at Chong Ta U. Moreover, the participation of people in the area should be encouraged to develop and promote the tourism in border trading at Chong Ta U.