Abstract:
The objectives of this research were 1) to analyze the situation and tourism potential of Samae San Subdistrict, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province; and 2) to develop a guideline for destination branding of Samae San Subdistrict, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, by in-depth interviews with 44 stakeholders of tourism in Samae San. Then, the data obtained was presented and opened to suggestions from 2 branding experts. The results revealed that types of tourism in Samae San are categorized into nature-based tourism and cultural tourism. The destination is also a famous source of seafood. The key target groups include Thai tourists, families, teenagers, students, and retirement age. The competitor of Samae San is the sea nearby. The advantages of Samae San include exuberant natural resources and fishermens traditional way of life. Moreover, Samae San also has potential for tourism branding in terms of the area, basic utilities, community inhabitants, and tourist attractions. The tourism goal of Samae San refers to the economic goal, i.e., for eco-tourism and for creating a good tourism experience. The highlights that should be presented according to interested persons opinions include fascinating marine attractions, memorable marine activities, fresh seafood, and ecotourism as well as community-based tourism through social media. The researcher has brought the data from this situational analysis to develop a guideline for destination branding of Samae San.