GUIDELINE FOR ENHANCING THE POTENTIAL OF HEALTH TOURISM IN BAN KUM, BANG BAN DISTRICT, PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were to 1) study the potential of health tourism in Ban Kum sub-district, Bang Ban District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province and 2) propose guidelines for enhancing the potential of health tourism in Ban Kum sub-district, Bang Ban district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. This study is  a qualitative research with the use of observation forms, interview forms and small group meetings with 18 key informants involving in health tourism in Ban Kum sub-district whereas the field study was done with the use of Health tourism potential observation form of Ban Kum sub-district, in-depth interviews and small group meetings. The summary was conducted with descriptive summarization. The results showed that the health tourism potential in Ban Kum sub-district comprises 9 aspects. The aspects with highest potential are service in tourist attractions and tourism activities aspect followed by accommodation in tourist attractions aspect and public relations aspect. The potential that should be developed are tourism attraction, tourism ability, facilities in tourist attractions, transportation routes, accesses to tourist attractions and tourism attitudes. These findings can be used to analyze and present guidelines for enhancing the potential of health tourism in Ban Kum sub-district in 3 issues as follows: 1) the presentation of development guidelines for health tourism potential in Ban Kum sub-district such as homestay group, health massage group and clean food group; 2) the presentation of the development guidelines for health tourism program model of Ban Kum sub-district namely the one-day health tourism program, half Day health tourism program and two day - one night health tourism program and 3) the presentation of the development guidelines for upgrading skills in various fields for health tourism in Ban Kum sub-district, Bang Ban district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province.