Tourist Safety Model for Cultural Tourism in Bangkok

Abstract

The purposes of this research article were 1) to study the safety of tourists in cultural tourism in Bangkok; and 2) to present a model of tourist safety in cultural tourism in Bangkok. It was a mixed methods research. For quantitative research, opinions were surveyed from sample groups, namely Thai and foreign tourists, as well as the public sector, at 10 cultural tourist attractions in Bangkok. A purposive sampling method was used, with 50 people per location, for a total sample of 500 people. The research instrument was a questionnaire. The statistics used for data analysis were mean, percentage, and standard deviation, using a ready-made social science program. The qualitative research was conducted by doing in-depth interviews using a semi-structured in-depth interview form with 30 key informants, divided into 2 groups, namely tourists and civil society and government officials, and focus group discussions with 20 experts. The research instrument was a focus group discussion form. The research results found that 1) tourist safety conditions in cultural tourism found that tourists had low overall safety concerns. Their opinions on safety management in cultural tourism were at a moderate level. The important factors in safety management were both preventive and problem-solving actions and the integration of cooperation among relevant agencies; 2) the appropriate tourist safety management model covered 6 safety management areas: crime, accidents, public health, natural disasters, getting lost, and plants and animals in tourist attractions. In order to use the research results to their full potential, the government and tourism agencies should emphasize the integration of work together, along with the creation of community networks and volunteers to support area-based management.