Developing the Potential of Eastern Seaside Attractions to be a New Tourist Destination for South Asian tourists

Abstract

A study on Developing the Potential of Eastern Seaside Attractions to be a New Tourist Destination for South Asian tourists was participatory action research (PAR) using a qualitative data collection method. The objectives are 1) to drive new tourist attractions in the Eastern seaside for South Asian tourists, 2) to create engagement between communities, locals, and provinces for the international reception, and 3) to promote tourism management to suit the needs of South Asian tourists. The study area covered four East coastal provinces: Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat. The results will be presented in an overview to see the area's potential and future development direction. The results were also used for the entrepreneurs' workshop with 425 participants.

         The results showed that the service provided lacked experience and understanding of South Asian tourist behavior, especially the need for accommodation and food consumption according to religious restrictions. Tourism routes should be developed to be more convenient, shorten travel time, and connect the main tourist attractions to local communities. Moreover, a strategy for public relations is required by using social media and soft power to penetrate the target groups under the limitations of each area. Lastly, promoting ecotourism and community-based tourism will reduce the repetition of the sights and create a positive attitude toward Thai seaside tourism.