Thailand’ s Policies and Strategies on Tourism toward Chinese Tourists under The ASEAN Plus Three 2017 – 2021

Abstract

This research aims to study 1) the policy and Thailand’s tourism strategy towards Chinese tourists, 2) the problems and obstacles of Thailand's tourism policies and strategies towards Chinese tourists; and 3) Issues that should be considered in the work plan and Thailand's tourism projects for Chinese tourists under the ASEAN Plus 3 cooperation framework in the future. This research employs qualitative methodology, using in-depth interviews from groups policy makers and Thailand’s tourism strategies, group of entrepreneurs of Thai-Chinese tourism business and a group of academics in tourism, totaling 9 persons.

The results of the research revealed that: 1) the policy and strategy during 2017-2021, focusing on the development of tourist attractions, products, services and facilities. Including balancing Thai tourism through marketing develop personnel potential network partners from all sectors and the tourism industry in accommodating tourists, 2) political problem in determining measures to control tourists. Policy and cooperation. Issues cultural identity problem. Problems that differ from country to country. Social and cultural conditions problem. The problem of understanding and accepting policy adjustments by policy makers affect tourism, 3) the work plan and projects in the future should be based on 3 issues: (1) current issues; from a number of people or any group in society until causing anxiety or being affected to becoming a crisis that influences the push for the policy agenda. before entering the policy decision-making process, (2) political current issues that may have an impact on other currents, with political currents influencing the advocacy of the “policy agenda” before entering the policy decision-making process, (3) policy trends should be considered from external policy trends as well, such as tourism policies of competing countries, policy trends of model countries in tourism management.