The Development of Tourism Type and Tourism Product in Phitsanulok Province for Carrying Thai and ASEAN Tourists

Abstract

The purpose of this study composes of the following issues: 1) to investigate the development of tourism types and products in Phitsanulok province during 2010 to 2013, 2) to study the tourism types and products that appropriately meet Thai and ASEAN Tourists’ demands—during the stated period and 3) to propose policies and strategic plans for the preparation on tourism types and products ideally suited to Phitsanulok province. The research data is collected from Thai tourists, ASEAN tourists and related authorities. The results revealed the following substantial issues: 1) to the tourism policies in Phitsanulok since 2008, the province was confined as under the Lower Northern Cluster, 2) the tourism types and products mostly responded to Thai tourists’ demands were: 2.1) cultural tourism, 2.2.) eco-tourism, 2.3) for the ASEAN tourists, the cultural tourism was ideally the most popular tourism type. Considerably, the tourism products to be developed were: travel agencies, accommodation, restaurants, and souvenir shops respectively, 3) the suggested policies and strategies were: 3.1) a penetration strategy, 3.2) a strengthening strategy, 3.3) a holding strategy and 3.4) a terminating strategy.