PROMOTING HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TOURISM IN NAKHON PHANOM PROVINCE

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were: 1) to study public and private partnership cooperation in promoting historical and cultural tourism in Nakon Panom Province; 2) to study pattern of public and private partnership cooperation in promoting historical and cultural tourism in Nakon Panom Province; and 3) to suggest guidelines for public and private partnership cooperation in promoting historical and cultural tourism in Nakon Panom Province. A qualitative research by collecting data through in-depth interview were used as instruments. Key informants consisted 30 people from government sector, private sector and civil society then brought leading up to the systematic, rational conclusion and reference theories to organize the data. The results showed as follow: 1) Public and private partnership used an integrated mechanism from all sectors to be consistent in order to achieve the goals of the quality of tourist destinations, tourism personnel and infrastructure for generating income and distributing income to communities according to the Nakhon Phanom Province development plan. 2) There were interesting findings of cooperation model as follows: 1) restoration and tourism development;   2) promoting tourism management to be responsible; 3) tourism promotion that was conducive to the learning process 4) promoting the participation process of people and local communities; and 5) public relations promotion, marketing, creating activities and forms of tourism. And 3) suggestions for promoting important local religious and cultural tourism by pushing the tradition of the Illuminated Boat Procession as an international event, as well as improving the standards of facilities to accommodate tourists, aiming to become a tourist center city in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).