The Success Factor of Entrepreneur Homestay in Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study the behavior of tourists who choose to stay homestay in Thailand 2) study the factors affecting the satisfaction of tourists staying homestay in Thailand 3) study the factors affecting the quality of life of the community 4) study the problems and obstacles that affect homestay and to study the factors that make homestay successful. Data were collected by questionnaires and interviews. The target group is 417 sets of questionnaires and community questionnaires, including 5 places, 415 sets. Statistics used frequency, percentage, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The results showed that 1. The majority of tourists coming with a group of friends was more than 50 percent and came by buses or groups. The purpose of coming to homestay mainly was to find information for research and recreation. The tourists, mostly women, aged between 21-50 years, and 60 percent were single. Diversity career, most of them work as employees, graduated with bachelor’s degrees. Incomes were between 10,000 and 50,000 baht. 2. Factors affecting the decision of the tourists have nine factors: 1) The owner of the house, their hospitable, basic communication skills, and local tourism training skill, 2) Discount factor. The mattress is a mattress, pillow, blanket, clean, 3) Health and diet factors. There is food and clean drinking water, 4) Location factors. Homestay is to reach the community with vehicles, 5) The activities are the activities that promote understanding, learning, and lifestyle, 6) Management. Management factor is a management system and homestay membership database management. The system helps visitors to know detail of landlords, 7) The safety factor. Having signs protection and device protection, 8) The market factor. Reasonable price charged is recognized by the group. The pricing is fair and reasonable enough, and 9) sustainable factor, products to be sold to a group of tourists from local ingredients and the use of resources for social benefit and sustainability. 3. Factors affecting the quality of life in community’s homestay have four factors: 1) the economy benefits to the community, revenue from tourism homestay. Economic development of the community is better and the community have better standard of living, 2) the social aspect is that homestay tour does not cause conflict in the family, community, and collaboration solutions in the community, 3) environment is safe. The landscaping and beautiful views of the community are protected and do not cause problem of declining tourists, and 4) health tourism, homestay does not affect physical and mental health of the community, and does not hinder tourism homestay too. 4. Barriers of homestay tourism were found that there was no strong support from the government. Locals formed the group and have to have a strong and selfless leader in the management. Online media plays a huge role in search for information. Some communities experience shortage of funds but some entrepreneurs who have sufficient funds have their websites. Individuals who want to stay in host communities do not have access to community homestay. In addition, locals lack training and development from the government and basic English skill for tourism is needed. 5. The factors bring successful sustainable tourism homestay. In order to have sustainable tourism homestay, we need to be aware of several sectors and support from the government to stimulate tourism, e.g. the government campaign in 2017 to promote tourism in Thailand, Subtle Chic Style. This is a great opportunity for tourism homestay but opportunity might turn to problems if there is lack of good administrative control.