Abstract:
This research aims to study the motivations of affluent tourists which affect the potential for wellness tourism and decision-making to travel in Chonburi province for affluent tourists. Additionally, it aims to study the readiness of wellness tourism potential in Chonburi province to provide guidelines for developing marketing strategies that can attract tourists to travel for health tourism in Chonburi province and adjacent areas. A mixedmethods research was applied in this research. The survey was used for quantitative research to gather data from affluent Thai and foreign tourists who travel for wellness tourism in Chonburi province. A total of 386 responses were collected from eight areas, including Bangsaen, Bang Phra, Si Racha, Koh Si Chang, Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Bang Sai, and Sattahip by quota sampling. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to explain the demographic characteristics of the respondents, and regression analysis was used to test the relationship between independent and dependent variables. In addition, 8 stakeholders were interviewed about the readiness of wellness tourism potential to enhance competitiveness as a guideline for developing wellness tourism potential in the Eastern Economic Corridor. The research findings indicate that the majority of respondents were females aged between 25 and 34 years old, with bachelor's degree education, and an income of approximately 25,001  50,000 Baht, working in private companies. Most of them were Thai tourists, while most of the foreigners came from Southeast Asia. They traveled with friends and received the information from friends or family. Price was a significant factor influencing decision-making in traveling wellness tourism. Moreover, Overall, there is a high level of agreement, with novelty as the most significant motivational factor. Regarding perceptions of wellness tourism potential in Chonburi province, respondents highly rate the relaxing environment as the most significant factor. For decision-making in traveling wellness tourism in Chonburi province, tourists are most likely to recommend places they have visited before to others. Regression analysis results show that motivational factors, including push and pull factors, positively influence the potential for wellness tourism in Chonburi province. In addition, wellness tourism potential influences decision-making in traveling in Chonburi province. The three factors influencing decision-making are natural tourism resources, cultures, and environment and safety. The readiness of Chonburi province in terms of cooperation between the public sector, private sector, and community, promoting ค marketing, and public relations, developing economic, social, and political policies, and community participation, developing economic, social and political policies, and community participation was important in developing the potential of wellness tourism. This means that government agencies and marketing managers should plan to allocate a budget for marketing and public relations to create awareness of wellness tourism among Thai and foreign tourists