The issue of promoting tourism in secondary cities

Abstract

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, statistics show that in 2024, a total of 35.54 million international tourists visited Thailand, marking a significant increase of 26.27% compared to the previous year. Revenue generated from international tourists reached 1.67 trillion baht, a 34% rise year-on-year. However, the majority of both international tourist arrivals and tourism revenue remain concentrated in three major provinces: Bangkok, Chonburi, and Phuket. This indicates that the policy aimed at distributing income through tourism in secondary cities has not yet achieved its intended success.

           This academic article aims to present: 1) The challenges and obstacles of tourism in secondary cities, 2) The factors influencing the decision to visit secondary cities among Thai and international tourists as well as the issues encountered in implementing these strategies. The knowledge gained from this article will benefit readers by providing insights into the tourist attractions that influence visitors and the reasons why secondary cities are less popular among tourists. Additionally, the findings can serve as a foundation for further research on this topic.