Development of Sustainable Tourism Along the Asian Highway Network
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IIIEE Theses 2007:09 Development of Sustainable Tourism along the Asian Highway Network “Exploring Possibilities in the Case of Thailand” Chotika Tantisirirak Supervisors Mikael Backman Naoko Tojo Thesis for the fulfilment of the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management Lund, Sweden, September 2007 © You may use the contents of the IIIEE publications for informational purposes only. You may not copy, lend, hire, transmit or redistribute these materials for commercial purposes or for compensation of any kind without written permission from IIIEE. When using IIIEE material you must include the following copyright notice: ‘Copyright © Chotika Tantisirirak, IIIEE, Lund University. All rights reserved’ in any copy that you make in a clearly visible position. You may not modify the materials without the permission of the author. Published in 2006 by IIIEE, Lund University, P.O. Box 196, S-221 00 LUND, Sweden, Tel: +46 – 46 222 02 00, Fax: +46 – 46 222 02 10, e-mail: [email protected]. ISSN 1401-9191 Development of Sustainable Tourism along the Asian Highway Network in Thailand Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisors, Mikael Backman and Naoko Tojo, for their patience to read my paper and give me comments during this summer. Both of you lighten me up with brilliant ideas and suggestions. Thanks IIIEE, all professors and staff to give me great moments in Sweden. Batch 12, without you guys, my life is not fulfilled here. MED (iterranean) boyz: you make me laugh and enjoy, Crazy Aussie: I will miss your high decibel, Cuties Swedes: thanks for your smiles and gentle, Argentineans (Diego, Ine y Tere): 4 months with you guys I have been entertained. Special thanks to my lovely classmates and roommates, Camille-Morrigan-Elvira for your friendship and cares. We will be friends forever!! THANK YOU… Mama and Papa who always believe in me and give me opportunity to make my dreams come true, my brother who always encourage me and give me good suggestions…I LOVE YOU Thank you, Priew, Siew and Panate who make me feel like home, without you I don’t know with whom I can speak Thai. Thank you all of my contact persons, without you I can’t finish this thesis. I miss you LUND, city of ideas. Development of Sustainable Tourism along the Asian Highway Network in Thailand Abstract Tourism is recognized as one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Tourism activities entail economic, social and environmental benefits as well as adverse impacts. ‘The Asian Highway Network’, crisscrossing 32 countries in Asia, has been promoted as a tourism- related and a transportation infrastructure. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has provided member countries with a plan of action to assist them with sustainable tourism development. Thailand is heavily engaged in promoting tourism along the Asian Highway Network. Therefore, a plan of action for sustainable tourism needs to be integrated and implemented in the country. However, an examination of Thai policy and its implementation has revealed that the Thai government has only started to consider the importance of sustainable tourism. Existing policies related to sustainable tourism and the implementation of these policies appear to be insufficient. There are a number of stakeholders who have the potential to influence sustainable tourism development along the Asian Highway Network in Thailand. The engagement of these stakeholders in the sustainable tourism development process is an important component in helping to realize this goal. While this study has revealed a number of barriers which exist in regards to sustainable tourism development along the Asian Highway Network in Thailand, it has also revealed that there are a number of drivers that give Thailand a large potential to achieve the objective of sustainable tourism development along the Highway. 5 Chotika Tantisirirak, IIIEE, Lund University Executive Summary In many areas around the world and specifically in developing countries, the tourism industry has drastically increased. The tourism industry in Asia and the Pacific Region has contributed to rapid economic growth over the last decades. On the other hand, these tourism activities have also brought with them negative impacts to the region. The concept of sustainable development has arisen in order to reconcile the three bottom lines: economic development, social justice and environmental protection. In order to achieve sustainable tourism development, tourism needs to be planned and managed in such a way so as to minimise social deterioration and environmental impacts, while providing a variety of benefits that contribute to sustainable economic growth. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has recognized the significance of tourism and its impacts occurring in the region. Therefore, ESCAP has provided its member countries with a Plan of Action for Sustainable Tourism Development (PASTA) to adopt into national policy. The Asian Highway Network, which consists of highway routes crossing 32 Asian countries, has been promoted as a tourism-related as well as a transportation infrastructure. Unfortunately, no specific plan of action for sustainable tourism has been developed for this project. However, PASTA could be applied to this project in order to promote and increase sustainable tourism development. Thailand has joined in promoting tourism along the Asian Highway Network. However, national policy appears to be inadequate in implementing a sustainable tourism approach. Therefore, this thesis explores the possibility of sustainable tourism development along the Asian Highway Network in Thailand by identifying the relevant stakeholders and examining related policies and their implementation. The relevant stakeholders, policies and implementation have been identified through a literature review. Additionally, interviews have been conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the stakeholders, the policies pertaining to sustainable tourism development, and the implementation of these policies. PASTA is used by policy makers and implementers as a guideline to develop sustainable tourism. In the analysis, data gathered from the literature review and interviews have been compared with PASTA. Based on the analysis, it appears that PASTA has been integrated into the national policy but that there remain weaknesses in the policy implementation. Additionally, through the analysis, drivers and barriers regarding sustainable tourism development along the Asian Highway Network are identified. The drivers include: excellent economic opportunity for Thailand; a concrete legislation framework existing in the country; strong relationships between the government and ESCAP with regards to educational and training programmes; good business opportunities for tour operators; participation of stakeholders in providing education to local people; excellent geographical location; and the existence of numerous services to facilitate tourists. On the other hand, the following factors have been observed as barriers: economic and political fluctuation; inadequate accessibility to tourism attractions; lack of coordination between governmental agencies; insufficient tourism facilities (e.g. signage, maps and rest areas); and low recognition of social impacts. Based on the work conducted here, it appears that while there are a number of barriers to the development of sustainable tourism along the Asian Highway Network in Thailand, there is 6 Development of Sustainable Tourism along the Asian Highway Network in Thailand still a strong potential for the realization of this objective within the country. While this thesis has shed some light onto the issue of sustainable tourism development in Thailand there remains a need for additional research in this area in order to help gain a better understanding of the issues at hand. 7 Chotika Tantisirirak, IIIEE, Lund University Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables 1 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................12 1.1 PROBLEM DEFINITION............................................................................................................................................13 1.2 THESIS PURPOSE.......................................................................................................................................................13 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS............................................................................................................................................14 1.4 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................................................................14 1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS .......................................................................................................................................15 1.6 THESIS CONTENT .....................................................................................................................................................15 2 TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................17 2.1 THE CONCEPT OF TOURISM...................................................................................................................................17 2.2 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT .............................................................................................................18