Tourism and History
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TOURISM AND HISTORY CHANGE AND ADAPATION OF LOCALS IN THE TOURISM PERIOD A S TUDY OF KOH SAMUI IN SOUTHERN THAIALND YUTHASAK CHATKAEWNAPANON A thesis submitted for the degree of MTour at the University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand October 2011 ABSTRACT Tourism and History: Change and Adaptation of Locals in the Tourism Period A Study of Koh Samui in Southern Thailand This thesis proposes an analytic framework of tourism history and discusses its value for a tourist destination’s analysis. Employing a tourism history perspective, the thesis focuses on Koh Samui case study as a reference. This is done to illustrate specific points of the thesis’s argument, such as demonstrating the validity of the analytic tool, which in this thesis links history philosophy (and their perspectives) with tourism studies. Focusing on the case study the thesis examines the influences of tourism development on Koh Samui society, an island in the Southern part of Thailand. In response to the growth of global tourism, Koh Samui has changed significantly from having an agricultural livelihood to a tourism economy. The thesis argues that the present society is the product of wider historical processes that have not been addressed yet. The focus of the thesis goes beyond the account of the interaction between Koh Samui and its tourism development as it is argued that the present society of Koh Samui is the product of reinforcement between global tourism and the islands’ historical and cultural legacy. Regarding the history of Koh Samui, the island has been significantly influenced by Thailand’s central history, particularly in relation to the effects of the Thailand modernization process and also, more recently, Thailand tourism system. The process of Thailand’s modernization as the result of the pressure from the nineteenth century Western colonial power provided the basis for the cultural traditions of Koh Samui society, which in turn prepared the next generations for their encounters with global tourism development. The present examination emphasizes the importance of recognizing the constitution of the national history and cultural in relation to the island’s distinctive cultural traditions and its significant economic and social progress in modern time. i Through analysis of empirical data, the thesis suggests that Koh Samui’s socialization in its tourism period has been characterized by significant tourism-related experiences. However, this work also shows that by including issues of national politics and ‘traditional culture’ it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of Koh Samui society in its tourism development period. Consequently, the thesis argues that the tourism history framework provides the understanding of the transformation of traditional agriculture and the process of the assimilation of tourism development which present the most important mechanisms and conditions for Koh Samui modernity. The tourism history approach advances understanding of tourism and social change as well as the meaning of culture, livelihood, landscape and development on the island during its tourism development period. ii Acknowledgements First of all, I would like to thank my parents for their financial and emotional support and encouragement. My greatest debt is to all of my family, Mae, R-Pa, J-Nooch, J-Nong, Hea-Go, Hea-Chet, P-Tui, Charp, Pakkad, Nonggun and Mongmuk for their patience and willingness to come along on my long journey. They have always been extremely supportive and encouraging throughout the suffering years and understand that this time of my life is critical and have put my study as their priority. I own them for the rest of my life. To Hea-Cha, my uncle, to whom I am grateful for his support and hospitality during my time on Koh Samui. I am indebted to the many people on Koh Samui, whose contribution allowed this thesis to continue and who were willing to contribute their stories to my work. Very special thanks to them for their trust and openness. Their willingness to share their personal stories and observations of their lifestyle are highly appreciated. I own special thanks to Dr Hazel Tucker and Dr Anna Thompson, my supervisors, for their continuous encouragements, support and enthusiasm. I especially want to thank Dr Hazel Tucker for her genuine interest in the topic. The friendly manner of her supervision has greatly helped to establish an excellent working relationship throughout the years. For Dr Anna Thompson, I cannot thank you her enough for her closely supervision on the final submission. Thank you also to Teresa Leopold and Andrea Valentin, who very graciously helped me by proof-reading. Their assistance played an invaluable role on both a personal and an academic level. Chawan, who was my assistance during my research on Koh Samui contributed valuable figures and photos, which greatly assisted the success of the thesis. In Dunedin, I gratefully acknowledge the assistance and support provided by the administrative staff at the Department of Tourism, University of Otago. I would like to thank the participants in the department seminars for their invaluable ideas and comments throughout the years. As colleagues and friends at the department, I would like to thank everyone, particularly Paolo, Julia and Andrea for their great conversations over coffees and beers. I am also very grateful to P’Ann, Kay, Misuk, Hanim and Edi for their friendship and support. iii In Bangkok, I am indebted to the Department of History, Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok, Thailand, and especially to R-Jan Sawitri and R-Jan Pubblung. I am very grateful for their encouragement to pursue an academic career. I am especially indebted to the Thai temple (Meditation Centre) in Dunedin and the fellows there. Their spiritual support has pointed me in the right direction throughout my critical times. I also owe special thanks to Na Pat, P’ Keaw, P’ Noy, P’ Nui, who’s support and kind hospitality was invaluable to my time in Dunedin. I especially want to thank Na Pat for generosity: her Thai cooking played an important part in the process of this work! Linn, Tui and Joob, our friendships over years in New Zealand will last forever. P’Ake in Sydney, Ying, Good, Nee, Aey and Ford in Bangkok, Wat and P’Pad in Chiangmai, even though they are in Australia and Thailand, their support and friendliness is here with me all the time. I am very grateful. iv Table of Contents Abstract i Acknowledgements iii Contents v List of tables x List of Figures x List of Plates xi List of Appendices xii Glossary xiii Chronology xiv 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Research Approach 3 1.3 Background of the study 6 1.3.1 Tourism and history 6 1.3.2 Tourism and tourist destinations 9 1.3.3 Koh Samui as a case study 11 1.4 Contribution to knowledge 13 1.5 Outline of research 15 v 2 TOURISM HISTORY : T HE APPROACH AND THEORETICAL CONCEPTION 19 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 Local historical perspective 20 2.3 Tourism history perspective 22 2.4 Narrative in tourism history 23 2.5 Tourism history: making a history with ethnography and oral history 26 2.6 Tourism history: tourism and its implications for historical writing 27 2.7 Tourism history and tourism periodization 29 2.8 Summary 31 3 TOURISM , D ESTINATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT : A R EVIEW OF LITERATURE 33 3.1 Introduction 33 3.2 Destination development: debates surrounding destination life-cycle theories 34 3.3 Tourism and local development: reviewing of existing case studies 41 3.4 Tourism and local development: reviewing of tourism studies of Koh Samui 47 3.5 Tourism as a catalyst of change 52 3.6 Summary 55 4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES : WORKING IN THE FIELD , C OPING WITH THE WORK 57 4.1 Introduction 57 4.2 Researcher and the research 58 4.2.1 My relationship with Koh Samui 58 4.2.2 Selection of the case study site of Koh Samui 60 vi 4.3 Data collection sources and methods 62 4.3.1 Observation and participation 64 4.3.2 In-depth interview and oral history 65 4.3.3 Map survey 68 4.4 Ethnographic experience: an identity crisis 69 4.5 Fieldwork on Koh Samui 72 4.6 Ethical and reflexive remarks 74 4.7 My representation and responsibility 75 4.8 Summary 79 5 LOCATING KOH SAMUI : U NDERSTANDING THE ISLAND IN THE CONTEXT OF THAILAND 80 5.1 Introduction 80 5.2 Historical background of Koh Samui 82 5.3 Thailand modernization process 86 5.4 Thai socialization: concepts and issues 90 5.4.1 Buddhism and Thai gender 91 5.4.2 Thai prostitution and sex tourism 95 5.4.3 Thai prostitutes and social identity 99 5.5 Center and periphery: reflections of Thai modernization process on Koh Samui 101 5.6 Thailand tourism development: center strategies 102 5.7 Koh Samui and tourism development 108 5.8 Tourism and Koh Samui society’s transformation 116 5.9 Conclusion: Thailand modernization, tourism development and Koh Samui’s modernity 121 vii 6 TOURISTIZATION OF KOH SAMUI : G EOGRAPHY IN TRANSITION 124 6.1 Introduction 124 6.2 Koh Samui: the shaping of a tourist landscape? 125 6.3 Cultural practice and the emergence of touristization on Koh Samui 127 6.4 Development of land market: agriculture turns to tourism 133 6.4.1 Local perspectives 135 6.5 Renewed touristization: the enforcement of princes and princesses of Koh Samui 137 6.6 Touristization on Koh Samui – Lamai Beach case study 141 6.6.1 The characteristics of Lamai Beach 143 6.6.2 Lamai Beach touristization process 144 6.6.3 Mapping survey on Lamai Beach touristization 148 6.6.4 Renting verses owning 151 6.7 Summary 152 7 THE TOURISM ECONOMY AND KOH SAMUI ’S S OCIAL LANDSCAPE