Supporting Factors, Impacts, Problems, and Obstacles in Developing a Smart Mobility for Tourism in the Eastern Economic Corridor area

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to (1) identify the physical conditions of the tourist attraction communities in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), and (2) describe various components influencing the development of smart mobility for tourism, effects, problems, and obstacles.

            This study was conducted by an exploratory research approach and was administered in three provinces consisting of Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong. The data were collected by two ways which were (1) the in-depth interviews, of which the participants included provincial administrative administrators, local administrative administrators, tourism entrepreneurs, and the general public, and (2) the focus groups, of which the participants included provincial administrative administrators, local administrative administrators, entrepreneurs of city development, entrepreneur of mid-sized and small-sized local businesses, entrepreneurs of tourism or continuous services, representatives of tourism attractions, and the general public. The data were analyzed by (1) the SWOT analysis, and (2) the GAP analysis

            Findings revealed that, first, the three provinces possessed physical potentials, including, (a) in terms of tourism, these provinces had various types of tourism attractions in both physical and culture aspects, and Chonburi was the top in this regard, (b) in terms of transportation, these provinces had mobility because of the widespread and diverse traffic network systems, and Chonburi was the top in this regard, and (c) in terms of environment, these provinces had environmental richness affluence, and Chachoengsao was the top in this regard, Second, the components influencing the development of smart mobility for tourism were divided into four aspects: economic, social, environmental, and transportation; (a) in economic aspects, the strategic points connected with Bangkok and other provinces in the eastern region have existed in the three provinces, leading to potential  in trade  and being a center of transportation, while having seaports have led to high investments in industries, trade, and services; (b) in social aspects, extended urbanization, more labor migrations from the agricultural sector to the industrial sector, and hiring laborers from the outside have led to problems on nonregistered population in the area; (c) in environmental aspects, the three provinces had environmental richness affluences but environmental problems still existed, even though under control, because of the increase of population and the expansion of the industrial sector and economic activities; and (d) in transportation aspects, the three provinces had good and well connected  inter city traffic network but there city traffic networks were not as good.