Abstract:
The objectives of this study were to investigate and evaluate the tourism potential of the World Heritage Routes (Sukhothai Si Satchanalai Kamphaeng Phet), to design and evaluate the tourism network management in the World Heritage Routes and to propose the patterns of tourism networks management in the World Heritage Routes.
The population consisted of 4 groups: 1) Thai tourists 2) personnel from governmental offices involved tourism 3) personnel from entrepreneurs involved tourism 4) the people in tourism community, using Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet provinces. The research instruments used were a survey form, an evaluation form, and a questionnaire, including a small group discussion. As for data analysis, it was analyzed by percentage, mean, standard deviation and content analysis.
The findings were as follows:
1) Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Sukhothai Historical Park, and Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park were the tourist attractions which had potential for being the main network connection with other tourist attractions due to these three main tourism networks have been prepared for facilities factors at the highest level.
2) Apart from the tourist attractions, the tourists also emphasized on these 6 supporting tourism factors; accommodation, souvenirs shops, oil stations, hospitals and police stations, in respectively. In addition, the Mesh Topology was also used for computer network connection to apply for calculating the elective number of tourism routes in the tourism networks.
3) With regard to the patterns of tourism networks management in the World Heritage Routes were POLCJvC which was applied from the general management theory or POLC; P = Planning O = Organizing, L = Leading and C = Controlling. As for POLCJvC, it was the management of tourist attractions in the network to share benefits to the community. Therefore, Jv or joint venture was added to indicate the management of the collaboration between local benefits and local ownership of tourist resources area as well as C = Community, it was the management considering for benefits and the effects which would happen to the people in the community.