Sustainable tourism development and management in the Phuket province, Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to study 1) the problems and threats facing sustainable tourism management in Phuket, 2) the important factors affecting the guidelines for conservation and sustainable tourism promotion in Phuket, and 3) the policy guidelines for tourism development in Phuket. This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods, and the tools for data collection were a questionnaire (400 sample), question framework, and semi-structured interviews. From the results, the researchers identified the following problems and threats in Phuket: 1) traffic jams, 2) conservation of natural resources, 3) waste management, 4) high cost of living, 5) tax policies, and 6) labor costs. The important factors affecting the guidelines for conservation and sustainable tourism promotion in Phuket and the policy guidelines for tourism development in Phuket necessitates that government agencies involved in tourism policy focus on: 1) the necessities of daily life, 2) security and access, 3) cultural tourism management, 4) conservation of natural resources and the environment, 5) public services, 6) waste management, and 7) the public transportation system.