Paper Title
Digital Mobility and the Changing Façade of Tourism Landscape: A Case Study of Self- Drive Excursionists, Central Thailand Routes
Abstract
This paper investigated travel motivation, planning behavior and experiences utilizing the case study of Thai selfdrive
excursionists driving along the Central Thailand routes. The study employed the qualitative approach with the
snowball sampling technique and the semi structure in- depth interview. The findings revealed the significance of
information retrieval from the technological mobile device in assisting in-situ travel planning, whereas the signage were
useful with some limitations; these addressed an importance of physical and information flow in tourism logistics for
destination management. The self- drive tourism market was also characterized by socially fun and pleasurable atmosphere
along the roadand information technological- oriented behavior. The travel experiences underlined the respondents’
consumption in leisure in attachment with eating and shopping, value of time spent with friends and family, and frequent en
route stops. The findings contributed to a better understanding of this immensely growing tourism market of Thailand,
particularly in terms of creative tourism products development, regional tourism promotion, creative souvenir sector,
improvement of car- based infrastructure and services and road landscapes, as to motivate more frequent holidays and higher
spending out of the tourism enclaves.
Keywords- Digital Mobility, In- Situ Travel Planning, Self- Drive Excursionist, Tourism Landscape.