The Study of Demand for Health Tourism Service in Tak Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the travel behavior of tourists, 2) to study the tourists behavior to promote health, 3) to study the demand for health tourism services for tourists who traveled in Tak Province, and 4) to analyse the correlation between demographic data and tourist behavior. The quantitative research methodology was used in this study. To collect data from a sample of 100 Thai and foreign tourists, this study used questionnaire with accidental sampling technique. The data was analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and Chi-squared test. The results revealed that the health tourism activities that tourists are interested in included making merit, eating local food, Thai massage, and beauty treatment. The purpose of travel is to recreation with the expected cost less than 10,000 baht and tourists mainly search for information from friends and family. In addition, tourists often travel with family and friends using private cars. It is also found that tourists needed services in accommodation, products and services, personnel, transportation systems, and food and beverage at a high level. The results revealed that demographic data included age, educational background, occupation, congenital disease, and level of health interest correlated with health-promoting travel behaviors of tourists.This study addressed the tourists travel behavior, the tourism behavior to promote health, and the demand for health tourism services for tourists who traveled in Tak Province. The results can be utilized to develop and promote of health tourism in Tak Province which will benefit tourists and develop tourism links at the local level.