Potentials and Opportunities in Tourism Development of KhaoKho Sub-district, Phetchabun Province

Abstract

This research aims to study the potential of local government in tourism development of Khao Kho Sub-district area, Phetchabun Province and to analyze the potentials and opportunities in tourism of Khao Kho Sub-district area. After that, this research will propose the policy proposal by having its data collection according to these methods 1) Having an in-depth interview with the important persons in setting up the tourism policy of local government 2) Having conversations with business entrepreneurs and community leaders 3) Analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and obstacles. The study result of the potentials and opportunities in tourism found that the local government in Khao Kho Sub-district area has become part of tourism development more from the power decentralization in government tourism for the local government. The outcome from enhancing the potentials in tourism of the local government such as public relations promotion and tradition and festival promotion to be tourist attractions more, providing news and information services as well as contact information for tourists, and area development in order to attract tourists. However, the study result found that the local lacks of the potential development process integrated with other government organizations as well as lacks of the beneft sharing person promotion process.The study result from studying the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and obstacles in tourism, it was found that Khao Kho has the beneficial location, beautiful scenery, cold climate which is named "the Switzerland of Thailand", and the government has decentralized power to the local in order to provide services in tourism according to what stated in the regulations in the law. However, it has the limitation in the development of budget matter which is limited while the large amount is needed; therefore, it is not enough to run the process according to the needs. Moreover, most of Khao Kho Sub-district area still lacks of the good garbage management system and the place for storing the garbage. These problems might affect the tourism image afterwards. The suggestions granted from this research study are that in the local government tourism potential development, it should be the budget and staff transferring to the local gorenment, and Khao Kho Sub-district local government should integrate the tourism matter with other government organizations in the area in order to create the most potential development.