The Development of Sustainable Golf Tourism Management Model in Southern Provinces on Andaman Coast, Thailand

Abstract This study seeks to examine the behaviors and motivational attributes of golf tourists, the potentials for golf tourism, impacts on communities of golf tourism, and the development of golf tourism management in southern provinces on the Andaman coast. The samples included 110 Thai and foreign golf tourists visiting golf courses in southern provinces on the Andaman coast, namely Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, and Trang, 5 golf course operators, and 10 others who were academicians and relevant parties from the government and private organizations. The instruments were a questionnaire, an in-depth interview, and a focus group discussion. Statistical tools included mean, standard deviation, and content analysis. The study revealed that sustainable and golf tourism required five attributes: attractions, events/tournaments, travel packages, participation, and knowledge. 1) Attractions refer to places in the southern provinces on the Andaman coast with characteristic geographical features and facilities. 2) Events/Tournaments refer to golf activities or tournaments during a certain time in the southern provinces on the Andaman coast. 3) Travel packages include golf tourism packages in the southern provinces on the Andaman coast. 4) Participation refers to the participation of communities in the southern provinces on the Andaman coast. 5) Knowledge refers to the ability to use the body of knowledge to improve sustainable golf tourism in the southern provinces on the Andaman coast to create new methods to impress tourists