Thailand’s tourism growth has been a financial success story for the country, with nearly 40M visitors, annually, contributing to 18% of GDP. This growth has brought problems of overtourism. The study focusses on a case history of a small island in south Thailand, Ko Yao Noi, promoted as an ecotourism destination, and looks at the relationship between the local Muslim community, outside investors, tourist typography and the Thai government. Qualitative research consisted of semistructured interviews with the local community, community projects, local businesses, outside investors and industry experts. The research adds to previous quantitative studies into sustainability on the island and asks how key players have shaped tourism development.
This research paper was a research dissertation for my Masters degree in Green Economy at Bournemouth University, September 2024.
Read the paper here