Tourism Development Strategy to Support the Development of Special Economic Zone of Mukdahan Province

Abstract

The research aimed to develop tourism development strategy to support the development of special economic zone of Mukdahan province. The target group of the study consisted of 60 stakeholders including tourism authority executives, tourism authority staffs, tourism operators, tourists, local government administration and community leaders. The research instruments were questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus groups and strategy evaluation. Collected data were analyzed by using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and content analysis. The research findings were as follows: The strategy consisted of 1) tourism development to support special economic zones linking ASEAN using strategies namely developing benefits, systematically providing one stop service and promoting tourism links along the route on the East-West Economic Corridor and ASEAN to Mukdahan; 2) promotion of the participation of people and local authorities in tourism development using strategies, that is, providing knowledge and understanding of the importance of strategies and promoting the involvement of people in every step, and enhancing community participatory networks; 3) development of management system and tourism personnel development using strategies including promoting sustainable community-based tourism management, enhancing integrated tourism management, creating tourism alliances and networks and staff development; 4) development of basic factors and elements of tourism using strategies covering developing infrastructure to meet tourism standards, protecting social and environmental impacts and safety, developing tourist attractions and activities to be more diverse and attractive; and 5) development of service businesses, marketing, and public relation using strategies namely encouraging and developing tourism services to meet the international standards, developing gifts and distribution center to fit in the standards and effectively promoting marketing and public relations. The result of training showed the difference of the participants’ knowledge before and after the training (mean 17.20; 9.50, out of 20.00) and the trainees’ satisfaction with the training at the highest level (mean 4.61). The strategy evaluation assessed by experts resulted in the highest level of suitability and a higher level of possibility.