Master Plans for Development
of Tourism and Research Topics

Not only is the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) involved in promoting tourism it also plays a crucial role in seeing to it that tourism develops in the appropriate manner and direction. It is, therefore, necessary to have a master plan for tourism development in order to determine a policy framework within the direction of sustainable tourism development.

1976: The First National Tourism Development Plan
Thailand's master plan for tourism development first came into existence in 1976 with the collaboration of the Netherlands Institute of Tourism Consultants and S.G.V Na Thalang Company Ltd. The main objectives of this master plan were.

1. An appropriate growth rate of tourism in Thailand.
2. Development of the tourism industry by utilizing Thailand's special attractions in as much as possible.
3. Devise a marketing project to promote tourism in ways beneficial for the Thai economy.
4. Provide convenient means of transportation to tourist attractions, recreational areas for the Thai people and promote cultural exchange between tourists and the local people.
5. Generate economic development by increasing employment, expanding production of arts and handicrafts, conservation of foreign currency and increasing foreign currency income.
6. Endeavour to achieve the objections aforementioned while maintaining a socio-cultural and historical identity.

These objectives inspired the concept of tourism development in terms of regional and provincial centres and tourist cities with a population of over 20,000. It is evident that this National Tourism Development Plan offered a relatively clear scheme emphasizing on concrete methods of arts and culture conservation.

1980: A Study of the Potential of Tourist Attractions in Thailand
From the time of the study of the first tourism development plan in 1976 up to 1980, the tourism industry expanded in growth and significance to the point of coming second in terms of income generation after rice exports. Because of its emphasis on planning, TAT therefore assigned the Science and Technology Research institute of Thailand to conduct a study on the potential of tourist attractions all over Thailand pertaining to the demand and supply in tourism and other related factors.

The results of the study divided Thailand according to three groups of provinces: provinces with high potential for development, provinces with average potential for development and provinces with low potential for development. Each of the groups was classified according to types of sightseeing attractions i.e beaches, historical sites or artifacts, etc.

1977-present : Tourism Planning at various levels
Apart from establishing a master plan for tourism, development at the national level, TAT also saw the need for tourism planning in each area which is classified into 4 levels i.e. primary research, primary study, principal planning and project studies. Planning applies to each ad every level from provinces to groups of provinces and sub-regions with development potential in mind.

Since 1970, TAT has instituted tourism planning in every province in Thailand especially the main tourist areas such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Songkhla/Hat Yai, Suratthani/Koh Samui, Pattaya, Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat where principal plans were institiuted. After a certain amount of time had lapsed, revisions were needed so as to be updated with current situations of tourism in the world and in the Southeast Asian region where there is a current boom in tourism.

Planning for tourism at each level needs to follow academic research procedures with dimensions of width and depth in mind but most importantly it must incorporate collaboration from all related government, private and public sectors.

Related areas of research.

Academic research has been one of the procedures TAT has followed in order to be updated with current trends and situations to ensure long-term benefits for the country. Consequently, TAT has conducted research in other topics covering a side range of topics, for example :

Development of Sightseeing Attractions : TAT has developed manuals for developing sightseeing attractions so as to ensure proper development with environmental concerns in mind.

The manuals are classified according to various types of sightseeing attractions i.e in the nature category, manuals were prepared for caves, waterfalls, hills and beaches; whereas, in the history and religion category manuals were classified into historical sites, temples in the North, temples in the South and temples in the North East etc.

Studies on Impact of Tourism : Studies on the impact of tourism aim to present the types of impact, the causes and solutions as well as institutes and organizations related to those problems.

Examples of studies that have been conducted on this topic are, The Impact of Tourism on Culture and Society: a Case Study of Chiang Mai and study on the impact of forest-trekking on the environment and local population.

Studies on the Extent of Capability of Development : In order to moticate a sustainable development of tourism, it is necessary to emphasize the extent of development capability. TAT has tried to promote this concept and encourage it to materialize by conducting studies in main tourist areas such as Samui Island. Pee Pee Island, the province of Krabi, the beaches and islands of Trat province and Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan in Surat Thani.

Studies to Develop the Service Sector another component in which TAT is greatly interested in is the service sector i.e. restaurants and guesthouses. TAT is greatly interested in is the service sector i.e. restaurants and guesthouses. TAT has consequently conducted research so as to determine concepts for developing restaurants and guesthouses as well as to set up standards for budget price types of accommodations.

TAT has conducted several projects on this topic for example the Guesthouse Business in Chiang Mai and Bangkok Research Project as well as studies on improving services in restaurants and guesthouses.

Linkage with Neighboring Countries in Indochina : As a result of the growth in tourism in this region and trends of astronomical growth in the future, TAT has, therefore, conducted studies on the feasibility of developing tourism between Thailand, Myanmar and Southern China, as well as Thailand and its Indochinese neighbors : Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

In the case of Laos and Vietnam, TAT has conducted several research projects such as the Project on the Feasibility of Investment for Development of Tourism in Champasak District in Laos, a study of a pilot plan for Tourism in Luang Prabang District in Laos and the Research Project on the Potential of a Tourism Route between Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, for example.

Studies on the Significant Statistics on Tourism : Numbers of tourists, average numbers of days, money spent and income from tourism are significant statistics collected by TAT. The figures disseminated to the public have been through the process of computation that guarantees the highest levels of accuracy as realistically as possible. Statistics on accommodation (only those of main tourist cities), international conventions and the spreading of tourists in different regions have also been collected.

The Growth of Tourism in The Future

Thailand's tourism industry will continue to grow and develop in appropriate and sustainable directions. It is therefore vital that all agencies, government, private and public must collaborate and have a part before and after the planning stages so as to accomplish the desired objectives. Serious and continued cooperation will ensure that Thailand's tourism industry will continue to develop steadily following the appropriate measures in employing its tourism resources.

References
1. The Study of The Potential of Sightseeing Attractions in Thailand Project.
2. Summary of Problems and Prevention Measures on Environmental Impact of Tourism.
3. The Study of revisions on the Master Plans for Tourism Development Project.
4. Deviation in the Tourist Industry: Catalyst for Political Eco System Process.
5. Annual Statistics Report, the Tourism Authority of Thailand.