| Author | Rungrawee Jitpakdee |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.RD-11-05 |
| Subject(s) | Ecotourism--Thailand--Yao Noi Island
|
| Note | A disse11ation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in
Regional and Rural Development Planning, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study examined the sustainability of ecotourism on Yao Noi Island based on
twelve indicators covering environmental, economic and socio-cultural dimensions.
Information required for this study was collected through primary and secondary
sources. Primary information was collected mainly through the survey of 178
households using a structured questionnaire and participatory appraisal methods. The
key informants interviews provided qualitative information on the effect of sustainable
ecotourism on environmental, economic and social arenas, and on the local institutional
arrangements made for promotion of ecotourism. Supplementary secondary information
was collected from relevant government agencies, books and journal articles.
The findings of this study revealed that the natural and environmental resources that
attracted tourists undergoing degradation, though the rate of degradation varies from
one resource to another. Some local efforts have been made locally to manage solid
waste and sewage so as to keep the island neat and clean, and to conserve natural
resources such as the mangroves and coral reefs. Several community based
organizations, government agencies and non-government organizations had carried out
community awareness creation and relevant management activities for sustainable
conservation of environmental and natural resources. However, these efforts have not
been effective for several institutional and non-institutional reasons. The on-going
degradation of environmental and natural resources has threatened the sustainability of
ecotourism on the Yao Noi Island. As ecotourism has been the main livelihood of more
than 50% of the islanders, further damage inflicted on it is going to severely hurt those
people.
As expected, ecotourism has generated substantial direct and indirect employment and
income opportunities for the local people. The majority of local people across all
income brackets have benefited from the employment and income oppo1tunities
generated by ecotourism as reflected in nearly 50% of household income accruing from
activities related directly to ecotourism. However, if households gaining indirect
benefits are considered, this propo1tion is much higher. Ecotourism has played a
significant role in improving the island economy, in general, and the household
economies of local people, in particular. Interestingly, ecotourism plays an even more
important role in the case of households belonging to low income group.
With regard to social sustainability, people had taken oppo1tunities to strengthen their
capability and were actively taking part in activities, including environmental and
natural resources management activities, carried out to promote ecotourism. However,
they are not satisfied with the activities carried out to improve their skills and
knowledge. Their pa1ticipation in decision making is rather weak. Whilst local people
are pursuing efforts to promote ecotourism, at the same time they are also concerned
about the possible adverse effect of ecotourism on their unique Islamic culture.
Therefore, they have taken initiative to protect their culture by establishing a code of
conduct to be followed by both locals and tourists. There is also a risk of the local
communities gradually losing their control over resources and property as increasingly
the land is being grabbed by outsiders. Promotion of sustainable ecotourism on Yao Noi
Island entails appropriate interventions that can ensure effective conservation of
environmental and natural resources, and protect the local culture as well as ownership
of private property including land and business enterprises.
|
| Year | 2011 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thapa, Gopal B. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Soparth Pongqaun ;Cochard, Roland ;Weaver, David Bruce |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Walailak University/ Commission of
Higher Education, Thailand |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |