Approaches for Supporting to South Asian Tourists in Less Visited Provinces : Case Studies in Chanthaburi, Trat, Phatthalung and Trang

Abstract

The article "Approaches to Attracting South Asian Tourists to Less Visited Provinces of Thailand: A Case Study of Chanthaburi, Trat, Phatthalung, and Trang" aims to study the potential of less visited provinces to attract South Asian tourists.

The study highlights that the provinces are diverse and have the potential to emerge as alternative tourist destinations for South Asians. In order to attract them, it is necessary to have a proper understanding of South Asian tourists’ culture, customs, beliefs, behaviours, likes, and tastes. On the other hand, there is a need to make changes and adjustments in the services, along with proper marketing of tourist packages and training for tourist guides through the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Similarly, the management of tourist destinations and accommodations in the less visited provinces is mostly done by their own local communities. Unlike most visited provinces, where a lot of big investors spend money on comfortable and luxurious accommodation, in order to improve the tourist attractions in these less visited areas, standards of accommodation, transportation, and services must be improved, developed, and upgraded as per their needs. Moreover, it is very necessary to develop connectivity between these less visited places and main cities like Bangkok and Pattaya in the eastern province and Phuket and Krabi in the southern province.