A Study of tourism potential in the Special Economic Development Zone, Nakhon Phanom Province

Abstract

This study aims to: 1) to study the potential of tourism resources in the Special Economic Development Zone, Nakhon Phanom Province; 2) to conduct a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Threat and Opportunity) analysis; and 3) to draw conclusions from the research regarding the development of tourism in the Special Economic Development Zone. The research is qualitative; the research participants, selected by purposive sampling, were tourism stakeholders from the government and private sectors and local people, comprising in total 16 people. The data was collected through in-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. The research found that the area of Nakhon Phanom province is close to the Mekong River, where the third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connects it to the neighboring country. This province also has many tourism resources connected to history and culture, such as Phra That Phanom and other Buddha relics in pagodas, Buddha relics in pagodas for seven birthdays, the Sri Sattha Naga Landmark, the Thai-Laos friendship village, and the Ho Chi Min remembrance place at Ban Na-chok. In addition, this province has many interesting tourist festivals such as the Phra That Phanom festival, the Fire Boat  tourism, the research found that the government sector is integrated with others to develop tourism. However, the private sector and the leaders of some local communities still need to obtain information and knowledge to gain more experience in tourism, to increase their awareness of the importance of tourism, and gain knowledge of how to develop tourism routes and tourism facilities such as sign posts to show the way to destinations and to communicate information to tourists. Regarding local foods, the research found that the food still lacks a unique identity. Therefore, searching for such an identity is still a necessary process to make the food more distinguishable. festival, and the “Festival of Eight Ethnicities and Two Nationalities”. In terms of developing