Potential Development of Hot Spring Destination at Ban Nong Charoen Kanchanaburi Province for High Value Tourism

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to assess the quality standard of natural hot spring, health tourism destination; to analyze the tourism resources in hot spring destinations; and to present guidelines to develop potentials of hot springs at Ban Nong Charoen, Kanchanaburi Province for high value tourism.  Data collection tools were interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, and health tourism quality standard assessment form of Ministry of Tourism and Sports for natural hot springs. Twenty-seven (27) key informants included stakeholders who were in government sector, private sector agencies and people involved in management of hot springs at Ban Nong Charoen, Kanchanaburi Province and connected areas.  Content Analysis was used to analyze data.

          The research findings showed that 1)In terms of the standard assessment of natural hot springs, health tourism destinations, the hot springs at Ban Nong Charoen met 3 assessment  2)Ban Nong Charoen hot springs contained minerals that were beneficial to the body hot springs springing up all year round; area next to Kwai Noi River having perfect nature; hot springs nearby ethnic community; convenient access.  lack of local community participation in management. 3)Suggestions for the potential development of Ban Nong Charoen hot springs included: 1) Develop landscape architect and landscape match the characters of the area; 2) Develop  holistic health tourism programs or activities and increase variety of activities in each age group; 3) promote research to develop new products that bring hot springs to wider variety of uses;  4) raise the standards of hot spring tourist attractions, facilities, safety system, environmentally friendly tourism management; 5) develop knowledge of health tourism and services of personnel working in tourist attractions; 6) promote health tourism marketing communication and create tourism awareness 7) cooperate with the Province to build a brand of health tourism city and create awareness among tourists; and 8) build cooperation in tourism management through the participation process of community in the area of Ban Nong Charoen Hot Spring and connected areas as well as  cooperate with tourism partner organizations at both provincial and national levels.