THAILAND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Thailand Tourism Development

Executive Summary

In the past few decades, Thailand has made itself stand amongst the most preferred tourist destinations on earth. Tourism industry plays a vital role in the country's economic development, besides providing hundreds and thousands of local employment opportunities. Despite the increasing tourism business, Thailand has been facing problems with respects to tourism management. There is a strong need to identify the industry's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats so that the government regulates and promotes the industry in a meaningful and fruitful manner. This report is made to address the various tourism issues of the Thailand's tourism industry. The report has been written from the point of view of a governmental consultant. The report first presents a detailed overview of the Thailand's tourism industry, its evolution over time, and significant developments. Following this, the report gives an insight of the developmental theories as they relate to tourism in Thailand. An in-depth SWOT analysis is followed to spot the areas of problems and improvements. Finally, the report gives recommendations and conclusion regarding where and how the Thai tourist industry should direct itself.

Table of Contents

Executive SummaryIi

List Of Acronyms And AbbreviationsV

Introduction1

Evolution Of Tourism In Thailand1

Features Of Tourism In Thailand1

Southern Thailand2

Central Thailand3

Northern Thailand4

North-East Thailand5

Thailand's Tourism In Light Of Developmental Theories5

Economic, Political And Social Positions Of Thailand6

Poverty and Unemployment in Thailand9

Strengths10

Well-developed banking system10

Strong manufacturing sector10

Growing ICT sector11

Weaknesses11

High inflation and debt11

Increasing fiscal deficit11

Weak IPR enforcement11

Lack of skilled workers and technicians12

Opportunities12

Highly educated population12

Moves to Technology12

Threats13

Increasing insurgency in the south13

Corruption13

Regional disparity14

Outbreak of disease14

Conclusion And Recommendations15

References16



List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

STD: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

THB: Thailand Baht

GDP: Gross Domestic Product

USPTO: United States Patent and Trademark Office

ICT: Information and Communication Technologies

IPR: Intellectual Property Rights

KEI: Key Performance Indicators

Thailand Tourism Development

Introduction

Thailand is nestled between the Asian countries of Laos and Burma. The city of Bangkok and many beautiful small ports of call are located along the Gulf of Thailand. Recovering from the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998, tourism is booming, and the nation has topped the Southeast Asian growth scores for year 2005 through 2006 (Glaesser 2003, p. 23). Textiles and garments remain Thailand's largest industry and second-largest source exports, after electronics. Buddhism is the predominant religion. Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy ruled by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Evolution of tourism in Thailand

The beginning of mass tourism in Thailand can be attributed to the 1960s when the country played the role of logistics for the American soldiers who fought in Vietnam. There are large military bases, as well as places for rest and recreation for U.S. military personnel on leave. Since the late 1960s in, the mass construction of three star level hotels, bars, massage parlors and related tourism infrastructure took place in southern Thailand (Croissant 2010 195). At the same time, numerous travel agencies who arrange tours to main attractions began to open up (Chaiprasit et al 2011 49). The soldiers, who returned home after the war, returned to Thailand with their families and spent their holidays here.

Features of tourism in Thailand

Today, Thailand is one of ...