Abstract:
The objective of this research was to investigate the cultural dimensions and cultural competence affecting intercultural communication of foreign tourists in the context of Thai cultural tourism. It employed a qualitative research approach, using a case study design and semi-structured interviews to collect data from 16 foreign tourists who had experiences in cultural tourism in Thailand and face-to-face interactions with Thai people. The purposive sampling technique using purposeful sampling and snowball sampling methods, was employed to select 8 Western tourists and 8 Eastern tourists. The findings on the cultural dimensions indicate that the foreign tourists who possessed different cultural characteristics in 6 dimensions (Large/Small Power Distance, Individualism/Collectivism, Masculinity/Femininity, High/Low Uncertainty Avoidance, Long/Short Term Orientation, Indulgence/Restraint) employed two strategies of communication accommodation in the course of interactions with Thai people. The "convergence" strategy adopted by both Western and Eastern tourists, was influenced by the tourists' knowledge of Thai language and their desire to reduce social distance between themselves and Thai conversation partners. The "divergence" strategy was caused by language barriers and the tourists' desire to keep a distance from their Thai interlocutors through their emphasis on the distinction of cultural identities. This latter strategy was also adopted by all the tourists regardless their differences in cultural backgrounds. The findings on the aspect of cultural competence show that knowledge, intercultural attitudes, and skills of interaction of the foreign tourists were significant and indispensable elements of the convergence strategy of communication accommodation. Importantly, even though they had knowledge of Thai culture and positive intercultural attitudes, lack of Thai language skills would compel them to use the divergence communication strategy with Thais.