NETWORKING AND BUSINESS TOURISM SERVICE CENTER IN CHIANGRAI THAILAND

Abstract

          The objectives of this study were 1) to study a data base and tourism business management in Chiang Rai municipality ; 2) to create tourism business networking in Chiang Rai municipality; and 3) to guide a tourism business center of Chiang Rai. The study was a qualitative research as a field study. The semi-structured interview, participant observation, and focus group discussion were used to collect data from 63 organizations in Chiang Rai municipality. The results found that 1) there are 3 main types of establishment in Chiang Rai municipality which were 11 travel agency businesses, 22 accommodations, and 30 restaurants/ cafés that referred to a family-owned business and lack of marketing strategies; 2) most of the establishments were willing to join a tourism networking such as sharing ideas at work, maintaining food sanitation, customers promotions, and . Moreover, the establishments also got the special privilege from attending the building of tourism networking from Chiang Rai municipality and guideline for problem solution in a period of low season. 3) There are a network of tourism business cluster in Chiang Rai municipality and a tourism business service center of Chiang Rai. The agent of establishments was selected to be the representatives of enterprises in terms of agency and planning coordinated with tourism center of Chiang Rai municipality comprised with events and meetings provided benefits for the network of tourism business group, and also publicize information to interested tourists.