Guidelines for Promoting Participation in Management of MICE Creative Tourism Network Partners for Local Communities, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research article were 1) to study the level of participation in management of network partners; 2) to compare the participation in management of network partners, and 3) to present guidelines for promoting participation in management of MICE creative tourism network partners for local communities, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The research process consisted of 1) studying and comparing the level of participation in managing network partners. The sample group consisted of 159 community members from 7 communities in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The sample was selected using a Stratified Random Sampling. The tool used in the research was a questionnaire with a reliability of 0.88 and the data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, T-test, one-way analysis of variance, and LSD testing; and 2) to present guidelines for promoting participation in managing network partners. 15 Key informants were community leaders, associations, entrepreneurs, the private sector, government agencies, and experts or academics using purposive sampling. The research tools used were interviews and descriptive data analysis with content analysis. The research results found that 1) the level of participation of partners in the MICE creative tourism network for local communities, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, overall, was at the highest level in every aspect. The aspect with the highest average was participation in monitoring and evaluation and the aspect with the lowest average was the aspect of participation in receiving benefits; 2) comparison of participation in managing network partners classified by personal factors found that aspect of community groups, gender, and occupations were involved in managing MICE creative tourism network partners for local communities, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province was different; and 3) presenting guidelines for promoting participation in MICE creative tourism network partners for local communities, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, namely, the development of products and services that were unique and identity of the local community should be promoted. Personnel potential should be developed as well as motivation should be created. Creative tourism activities/projects should be promoted. Technology should be applied in sales promotion and public relations and should develop the infrastructure for ease of access to the community.