Small-Scale Aid's Contribution to Long-Term Tsunami Recovery
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Carolina Digital Repository Small-scale aid’s contribution to long-term tsunami recovery Stephanie Caves Nelson A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Geography. Chapel Hill 2007 Approved by: Wendy Wolford Kevin Hewison Stephen Birdsall ©2007 Stephanie Caves Nelson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT Stephanie Caves Nelson: Small-scale aid’s contribution to long-term tsunami recovery (Under the direction of Wendy Wolford) The December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was followed by a “second tsunami” of international development aid that has subsequently become part of the economic and social fabric of southern Thailand. This research examines the contribution of small-scale international aid efforts toward long-term recovery through the engagement with the tourism sector in the Phang Nga province of Thailand. Two case studies provide insight into how international aid organizations envision economic recovery, how they engage with and impact the local community, and finally how they challenge current models for recovery. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to dedicate this thesis to my parents, Tom and Kathy Caves, who have been my source of inspiration from the very beginning. I also would like to thank my wonderful husband, Jeff, for whole-heartedly being with me every step of the way. Finally, this thesis is in honor of the people of Khuraburi and Khao Lak, Thailand who have suffered so much but yet have found the strength to endure. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... viii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 Research Goals and Objectives......................................................................................... 3 Rationale and broader significance of research ............................................................ 4 Central Arguments........................................................................................................ 6 Thesis Organization .......................................................................................................... 7 II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................................... 8 Tourism Studies ................................................................................................................ 8 International Development.............................................................................................. 13 Disaster Recovery ........................................................................................................... 18 III. BACKGROUND ON THAILAND AND STUDY SITES .......................................... 22 Development in Thailand................................................................................................ 22 Modernization and Economic Development .............................................................. 23 Community Development Approaches....................................................................... 24 Tourism in Thailand........................................................................................................ 27 Tourism as Economic Driver...................................................................................... 27 Thailand’s Alternative Tourism Industry.................................................................... 28 Southern Thailand Study Sites........................................................................................ 32 v Disaster Strikes: Tsunami Impact ............................................................................... 36 Conflict in Rebuilding Phase ...................................................................................... 37 IV. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY........................................................ 41 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 41 Value of Qualitative Methods......................................................................................... 41 Data Collection ............................................................................................................... 43 Site Selection .............................................................................................................. 43 Organization Selection................................................................................................ 44 Participant Selection ................................................................................................... 45 Methods for Research Questions .................................................................................... 46 Limitations to Methodological Approach................................................................... 50 V. INTERVIEW AND PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION RESULTS ............................. 52 Organizational Sketches and Interviewee Life Histories................................................ 52 ABT............................................................................................................................. 52 KNTC.......................................................................................................................... 57 Similarities in Organizations....................................................................................... 60 Interview and Participant Observation Findings............................................................. 60 Economic Recovery.................................................................................................... 61 Connection to people and place .............................................................................. 63 Aid Worker’s views on Development and Tourism ............................................... 64 Sustainability in long-term recovery efforts ........................................................... 69 Community Engagement and Impact.......................................................................... 73 Program Populations............................................................................................... 73 vi Organizational and Community Relationships ....................................................... 76 New Power Relations.............................................................................................. 78 Thai Future Livelihoods.......................................................................................... 80 Small Scale Organizations and Best Practices............................................................ 82 Small Scale Meets Challenges................................................................................ 83 Effectiveness of long-term small-scale International Aid Organizations............... 86 Problems with Proposed Objectives ....................................................................... 88 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 90 VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................... 92 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 92 Successes of Small Scale Aid Interventions ................................................................... 92 Hindrances to Small Scale Aid Interventions ................................................................. 94 Recommendations for Future Aid and Tourism ............................................................. 96 Direction for Future Research......................................................................................... 97 APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................ 98 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 103 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of tsunami-affected countries..........................................................................1 2. Map of study sites..................................................................................................33 viii CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION On December 26th, 2004 a 9.0 magnitude earthquake deep in the seabed of the Indian Ocean off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia created a tsunami that took the lives of over 225,000 individuals from eastern Africa to western Thailand. The powerful waves reconstructed the physical landscape of the region and in so doing opened the door to an overhaul of the social and economic landscape. Referred to as the “second tsunami,” development aid has become part of the economic and social fabric in post-tsunami countries. International donations received and promised in affected countries reached USD $14 billion (Telford, Cosgrave, and Houghton, 2006). International focus in the region was intense during the initial response and relief phase to the disaster as affected countries experienced an influx of media attention, monetary funds, material support and volunteers. Figure 1 Tsunami-affected countries This thesis serves to explore