A STUDY OF THE ADVANTAGES IN THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY BETWEEN THAILAND AND VIETNAM

Abstract

The research on: A Study of the advantages in the Competitiveness of the Tourism Industry between Thailand and Vietnam” can be summarized that the tour operators had the overall opinion on the competitiveness in tourism industry that Thailand was better than Vietnam. When headlines were considered, it was found that the tour operators had the opinion towards competitiveness in tourism industry that Thailand was better than Vietnam on the beauty of the tourist attractions of the nature type, historic sites, world’s heritage, security service at the tourist attractions. Also was better in the hotel room quality, price of the hotels compared with the room quality, security service of the hotels. As well as providing information on the tourist attractions and hotels, development of the traveling roads, development of the train service, ports, and modernization of the airports, electricity, tap water, telephone, the Internet quality, food quality and hygiene for the tourists. However, it found the operators to have opinion on the competitiveness in the tourism of Thailand was better than Vietnam in the convenience to enter the country, quality of the memorabilia, conservation of the environment, promotion of investment in the tourism, price of fuel, and control of urban air pollution.

While the study on the competitiveness in the tourism industry of Thailand and Vietnam, using the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TCCI) found Thailand had better overall capabilities than Vietnam upon the consideration on the individual basis as follows:

1. Establishment of the structure in the tourism supervision found Thailand had better capability in the competitiveness on the overall supervision than Vietnam, including the policy, rule, and regulation on the environment, health, and hygiene. While on prioritization of tourism found Vietnam had better implementation than Thailand on safety and security service.

2. On the economic conditions and infrastructures found Thailand had better competitive capabilities in business environment and infrastructures than Vietnam, as well as the infrastructures on the air and land transportation, tourism, communications and telecommunications. But it found Vietnam had a cheaper price in this industry.

3 . On the human resources in tourism, culture, and natural resources found Thailand to be more competitive than Vietnam in all these stances, including human resources, and openness to tourism.