SUSTAINABLE TOURISM OF PHUKET ISLAND:A CASE STUDY AT PATONG BEACH, THAILAND

Abstract

This study explored the existing tourism situation at Patong Beach, Phuket Island, Thailand, analyzed factors influencing and proposed strategies for sustainable tourism development in the area as the world-class tourist destination based on community-based tourism. The important result was that tourism brought positive economic impacts to community such as generate local income, employed local people, create good local economy. In the meanwhile, positive social impacts were such as the local people’s better livelihood and enhanced infrastructure system development. Moreover, he positive environmental impacts were increased local awareness, increased enforcement of environmental regulation and generated stakeholder’s cooperation in environmental conservation. In terms of negative impacts, tourism brought negative economic impacts such as caused a loss of income to foreign entrepreneurs, negative social impacts were such as caused prostitution disease problem. Moreover, it was found that Patong beach was affected from lack of people’s participation, tourism policies directed on income which were the unsustainability, even though Patong beach has high tourism potential. Therefore, the strategies for sustainable tourism development of Patong beach as world-class tourist destination based on community-based tourism must be concerned as follows: (1) Political development strategy: Enable the participation of local people, Increase the power of the community in natural resource management. (2) Environmental development strategy: Study the carrying capacity of the area, Appropriate waste management, and Raise awareness of the need for conservation. (3) Social development strategy: Raise the quality of life, Promote community pride, Divide roles fairly between women/men, elder/youth, and Build community management organizations. (4) Cultural development strategy: Encourage respect for different cultures, Foster cultural exchange, and Embed development in local culture. (5) Economic development strategy: Raise funds for community development, Create jobs in tourism, and Raise the income of local people. These presented strategies will lead Patong beach to be the sustainable tourism beach and world-class tourist destination based on community-based tourism in the future. Moreover, it can be a prototype of sustainable tourism development to other community.