Abstract:
This research aims to study the situation and potential of trekking tourism management in the upper northern 2, tourist behavior and motivation towards trekking tourism management in the upper northern 2 and factors affecting competitive advantage of trekking tourism management in the upper northern 2, and to propose the competitive advantage strategies of trekking tourism management for tourists in the upper northern 2. The study includes the elements of trekking tourism management and the assessment of trekking tourism management potential by surveying the study area and in-depth interviewing the representatives of the government, the tourism entrepreneurs in the upper northern 2, local community, and the stakeholders. In addition, data was collected by distributing the questionnaire to 400 trekking tourists and by conducting the focus group with the stakeholders in tourism to create the appropriate strategies. The research findings revealed that trekking tourism management for tourists in the upper northern 2 was the significant tool as a guideline to create competitiveness in trekking tourism management. From the trekking tourism management situation and competitive potential analysis, 4 parts of trekking tourism management were at the low level while the other 2 were average. The bargaining power of tourists was identified as the highest force among the five forces. In order to develop competitive advantage strategies, the differentiation strategy was highlighted. The differentiation strategy consisted of product differentiation, services differentiation, human resource differentiation, and image differentiation, with the attractiveness of natural resources, the regulatory enforcement, clear participation process among the government sector, private sector, and stakeholders for the accurate perception of tourists towards trekking activity, business operation of the entrepreneurs for local community benefit sharing, professional trekking tourist guide development to enhance service quality, safety and security, and the integration with related sectors that organize tourist guide training and with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for the professional service standards and competencies. Furthermore, the marketing plan of the related government sector should focus on the targeted customers who are fond of nature. The plan should also encourage the collaboration with the conservative tourism entrepreneurs to strengthen the sustainability of trekking tourism in the upper northern 2