1. Dr. TAWEESAK THEPPITAK - Professor, Faculty of Logistics, Burapha University, Thailand.
Tourism has become a significant industry to boost Thailand economy. Through years, it generates high revenues, as compared to the revenues from export sector. This paper focuses on tourism logistics in Bang Saen Beach, Thailand as the case study. The beach is a beautiful destination in Chonburi province. However, with rapidly increasing number of tourists, logistics tourism is a challenge in term of insufficiency of transport system, infrastructure systems and facilities. It also includes generate environmental pollutants. Further, these problems are pointing to lack of effective tourism logistical management and strategy. An objective is to analyze demand forecast model for tourism at Bang Saen Beach. It also examines tourists’ behavior, lifestyle and expectation. The results are used for planning infrastructure systems and facilities, including strategies for transport networks and logistics systems to support the future growth. Data are collected from secondary and primary sources. The questionnaire is distributed to 150 potential tourists, with 98 questionnaires being returned, for return of rate at 65.3 percent. The result shows that a time series would be an appropriate model for a demand forecast. However, there are several factors intervening and effect to the model interpretation. It reveals that tourism to Bang Saen Beach would rapidly increase in the next decade, especially in public holidays. It suggests that designing transport and logistics systems from Bangkok to Bang Saen Beach would be considered. Effectively designed infrastructure systems and facilities are also required to support sustainable tourism on Bang Saen Beach. Issue of reverse logistics system for garbage management would be effectively focused. Rapidly increasing garbage is a problematic issue for logistics related to a sustainable, green, eco-friendly environment.
Tourism, logistics, demand forecast, Beach, Thailand.