STRATEGIC ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT ON THE TOURISM PROMOTION PROGRAM IN THE EASTERN REGION OF THAILAND

บทคัดย่อ

The first part of this study was the application of ‘Trip Frequency One Site Model’ for tourism in each province of the Eastern Region of Thailand. This ‘Single Site Model’ used Individual Travel Cost Approach and most suitable regression results (Double Log Demand Functions) for Thai and foreign tourists. The second part was the application of ‘General Logit Model for Multiple Sites’. This was to analyze the probability of reservation of accommodations, excursion and/or tour packages through internet. The results implied that, for the Eastern Region in 2011, the value of recreational benefits for both Thai and foreign tourists were far exceeding the total amount of the budget allocated for the tourism development promotion. Therefore, the government should invest in tourism promotion especially for Thai tourists who are traveling by cars and not for foreign tourists. The foreign tourists should be promoted in groups.