CREATING TOURISM VALUES IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN CHONBURI PROVINCE OF THE EASTERN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR ZONE FOR GENERATION C TOURISTS IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study 1) tourism promotion policies, future directions, 2) tourists’ tourism behavior, tourism activities currently available and activities that should be developed in the future, the current tourism service model that should be developed in the future, and 3) the current social media and future media development guidelines for European and North American tourists who came to travel in Chonburi Province which was in the Eastern Special Development Zone.  The study was qualitative research in which data were collected through in-depth interviews conducted with Non-Group Tour operators, tour guides, executives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), executives from agencies under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, executives from the Eastern Special Development Zone, and 24 European and North American tourists. It was found that, for the European and North America tourists, the tourist encouraging policies are driving the tourism to world-class. Behaviors, activities, styles of European and North America tourists, are focused of on relaxation. Current tourist services should be developed in the future and focused on safety. European and North America tourists are interested in natural, historical, agricultural attractions. As well as cultural and traditional tourism, and sports and entertainments. Online media development guideline for European and North America tourists, will use social media as the center for everyone to participate and share opinions via online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter etc.