Impacts of tourism in Thailand - Essay Example

? Impacts of Tourism in Thailand Impacts of Tourism in Thailand The idea of physical and mental rest and entertainment are some of the evident motivators for travelers, but if we dig deeper, innate human desire to travel to distant areas is directly related to human emotion, fantasy, and imagination (Davis, 1999; Crouch, 2000 cited in Kontogeorgopoulos, 2004, p.1). Most of Southeast Asian countries have been promoting tourism as a major component of their development strategies for a few decades. The efforts are supported by beliefs that tourism generates considerable sources of employment for locals; economic growth; income distribution; foreign exchange earnings; and export receipts. Just like Thai trademark rice export, tourism has become a key contributor to the Thai economy. Importance of tourism for Thai economy can be accessed with the help of data provided by national accounts data and Thailand’s Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) (Wattanakuljarus, 2005, p.3). Wattanakuljarus (2005) states that, “On average during 1998-2005, Thai tourism directly and indirectly accounts for 13 % of GDP (665 billion baht), 10 % of employment (3 million jobs), 13 % of exports (417 billion baht), 12 % investment (117 billion baht) and 3%of government budget (13 billion baht)” (p.3).Such huge incorporation of tourism related activities certainly has impact on Thai society in general and some areas in particular. This paper studies the impact of tourism on Thai economy, environment, agriculture, society, culture, and tradition. The information used throughout the paper is generalisable. All of the information used is taken from authentic sources, such as, journals, academic reports, and books. Most of the data is obtained from libraries, either local or digital. Impacts of Tourism in Thailand Thailand has long pursued its goal of tourism related marketing strategy. The strategy is to boost economy, encourage low, medium, and high cost tourism in all the potential regions of the country. From “Land of Smiles” promotion slogan and other extensive promotional strategies, Thailand has become the more popular and south-after tourist destination from all over the world (Pfotenhauer and Mingsarn, 1994, p.23).Tourist visit Thailand for variety of reasons, the reasons may not be mutually exclusive because they often combine them when planning for the visit. Some of the most common types of tourism in Thailand include: adventure tourism, cultural tourism, disaster tourism, drug tourism, Eco-tourism, family tourism, food tourism, sex tourism, medical tourism, and sports tourism. Adventure Tourism Traditionally, adventure tourists explore Thailand in search of adventure by climbing mountains; trekking for longer time periods; kayaking; and visiting off-beat places far from conventional areas to visit. A comparatively mild form of adventure tourism is “soft adventure tourism” that caters people who want to combine some rough experiences but lesser than regular adventure tourists. They prefer to combine visits to important cities and beautiful beaches. Bird watching is also a kind of adventure tourism (Berger, 2007, p.11). Cultural Tourism Cultural tourists are keen to investigate and get information about the cultures, importance, and history of the places they visit. They usually focus on famous cathedrals; historical museum; symphony halls; opera houses; and similar attractions (Berger, 2007, p.11). Disaster Tourism Some tourists prefer visiting the places of disaster of a kind or another. They observe places for knowing what happened; how it affected people and environment there; and how people there are coping with the disaster. They “participate in history” by experiencing such places through visit. For instance, after December 2004’ tsunami, some tourists packed bags for visiting affected places (Berger, 2007, pp.11-12). Drug Tourism The tourists visit places where they can access drugs easily and without any restriction. They visit Thailand because they can’t access it in their native lands (Berger, 2007, p.12). Eco-tourism Eco-tourists visit places where ecological aspect is taken under consideration and preserved, such as, rain forests. Many regions and cities in Thailand have hopped on ecology band wagon, and made considerable efforts in order to maintain their sites in an ecologically correct manner. Overall, eco-tourism proved to be a positive facilitator of tourism industry in Thai land, however, there are concerns about eco-tourists damaging the fragile places they visit regardless of their best efforts to preserve it(Berger, 2007,p.12). Family Tourism Family tourists visit Thailand for weddings; family meetings; graduations; births; bar mitzvahs; funerals; and similar family events(Berger, 2007,p.12). Food Tourism Foodies, and people interested in foreign cooking style and cuisines are the basic group of people who make the basis of this kind of tourism. Tourist agencies have started to offer gastronomy bases tours (Berger, 2007, p.12). Sex Tourism Unfortunately, sex tourism is a major kind of tourism industry in many countries. Thailand is has gathered negative image for its highly developed sex tourism industry. Sex tourists travel to countries where they can get access to the desired sex partner in a relatively easy manner as compared to their native land. The availability of partners varies from heterosexuals to gay, and pedophiles. In certain cases, sex tourism expatriates are referred as “sexpatriates” (Berger, 2007, pp.12-13). Medical Tourism Medical tourists visit Thailand for medical procedures which they can avail here on relatively inexpensive rates. Another reason is the unavailability or inaccessibility of particular medical procedures in their native lands. For instance, tourists travel to Thailand in order to have their plastic surgery done due to the high quality of the service and bargain rates of the procedures. Another milder form of medical tourism caters tourists in spas and other places of similar (Berger, 2007, p.13). Medical tourism is not a new idea, rich people from underdeveloped countries travelled to western countries famous for medical treatments. People from Middle East opted treatments in United States while expatriate from developing Southeast Asian countries arrived Singapore-regional centre of medical treatments. However, the trend is reversed now. People from highly developed countries are travelling to developing countries offering quality but affordable and medical services. People combine their medical tour with vacationing and other forms of tourism (Cohen, n.d., p.25). Sports tourism Sports tourists travel for satisfying their sports interests, such as, skiing, cycling, golf, kayaking, and other games or visiting to support the teams they may follow (Berger, 2007, p.13). Ethnic Tourism Northern Thailand’s ethnic groups or tribes include ten groups with linguistic distinctions and a population of 922,975.The communities of these groups are stretched between 20 provinces of northern and northwestern Thailand (Technical Service Club as cited in Leepreecha, 2005, p.1). Their distinctive life style, exotic culture, and natural resources attract both national and foreign tourists in Thailand (Leepreecha, 2005, p.1). Rural Tourism Thailand has promoted tourism as a major source of its national income like many other less industrialized economies. However, tourism has negative impacts on national and local level. Thailand has experienced uncontrolled tourism; therefore, less destructive approaches are incorporated in nation's sustainable development. Rural tourism is an intriguing theme of sustainable development. Rural tourism may take different forms; therefore, it can’t be defined concisely. Rural tourism can be regarded as a part of rural development and “sustainable development”. Thailand’s rural areas have rich diversity of cultures, natural resources, and traditions which attract tourists from all over the world. Five tourism themes are identified as beneficial for both locals and tourists. These themes include: natural tourism; cultural tourism; ecotourism; agrotourism; village-based tourism (Rattanasuwongchai, 1998, pp.5-6). Natural tourism is primarily base on recreation with minimal or no ecological impact. Cultural tourism deals with the culture, history, and archeology of the local people(Rattanasuwongchai,1998,p.6).Ecotourism is a welfare based tourism in which not only natural resources are preserved but local population's social values and well-being is also maintained(Anderson,1997).In village-based tourism, tourists experience rural life and locals gain benefits from tourists’ economic activities(Sombunthum, cited in Rattanasuwongchai,1998,p.6).Agrotourism is associated with tourists observing or participating in traditional agricultural practices without interrupting the ecosystem or the yield of host area. Despite the perception that rural tourism is positive, without sufficient planning and monitoring, even rural tourism can prove destructive in sensitive rural areas (Rattanasuwongchai, 1998, p.6). Tourism Impact on Thailand Socio-cultural Impact Economic benefits inspire Thai rural communities to accept tourism related activities despite its negative impact. Inadequately planned tourism leads to rural areas invasion by tourists with entirely different social values that disrupts local values and culture. Continuous encounter with such activities may lead to decline in the level of local participation in rural traditions and cultural practices. A glimpse of this change can be observed in modern buildings replacing traditional housing. Agricultural practices were the foundation of traditional living; however, it is replaced by tourism. Koh Samui, a renowned tourist island in south Thailand has seen reduction in coconut cultivation, and Ayuthaya has experienced reduced traditional farming practices in recent past (Rattanasuwongchai, 1998, p.6). Higher living standards in urban tourists’ destinations led to emigration from neighboring rural areas that has resulted into demographic change and culture shock. Moreover, education and employment also lead to negative social impact. Tourism related education, employment, and other opportunities created rivalry between younger and elder generation. Tourism must be compatible with rural requirements in order to avoid and modify such situation (Rattanasuwongchai, 1998, p.7). Poverty, social imbalance, gender inequality, and government desire to earn foreign exchange has led to sex .Globalization and its consequences has laid great pressures on weaker sections of Asian societies, particularly, women and kids to sell flesh for meeting the needs of their families. In Thailand, 90 percent of child prostitutes are female. Poor and deprived families of north-east and northern areas of Thailand are the hub of female and child sex-worker suppliers to the urban areas. The dilemma is that government and consumer both denied its existence. Both have their own interests. Government and consumer both neglected when travel trade started promoting sex tourism in Thailand. However, they started paying attention only after AIDS epidemic hit the country due to sex tourism (CPT MTM, 2011, pp.82-84). Environment Impact During 1997, 7.2 million tourists visited Thailand with an average duration of stay as 8.3 days (TAT, 1997 cited in Rattanasuwongchai, 1998, p.6). and the count is increasing every year. Mounting number of visitor tend to overexploit country’s natural resources that laid a heavy burden on environment. In addition, infrastructure required by tourism related activities, such as, transportation and other facilities also lead to environmental distortions. Tourists’ activities, such as, trekking and camping cause pollution due to their inadequate and unhygienic waste disposal; sewerage discharge in water resources; littering; and carefree attitude. In the absence of policy and regulations, sky-rocketing tourists’ hotels and uncontrollable number of tourists leads to congestion and damage of local scenery (Rattanasuwongchai, 1998, p.6). Agricultural Impact Agriculture may not be considered as a direct beneficiary of tourism; however, its impact on agriculture and associated people is far-reaching. The impact is huge in the regions where tourism is rapidly growing and replacing traditional cultivation practices or giving alternative opportunities. Some suggest that direct impact of tourism on agriculture is threatening due to apparent impact of tourism related construction. Others argue that the impact is positive because tourism not only provide locals with an alternative source of income, but also provide education opportunities for farmers in a non-agricultural set-up. Opponents believe that tourism aggravates the social division and interrupt traditional land management by inducing environmental degradation. They also argue that with the introduction of farm tourism, more resorts and hotels will sprung up which will lead to the newer but negative forms of mass tourism(Forsyth,n.d.). A research study in a renowned Mien village in Thailand reveals that tourism is rather a great supplement to income in some regions. For most of the households, tourism creates 25 percent of their income. Remaining part comes from agriculture, in particular, from cash crops like soybean. One third of the total households was not earning any money from tourism and depended on agriculture as a whole. Tourism has a range of impact on agriculture in Thailand. Most threatening is tourism inhibition of agricultural practices of local communities. However, in the milder forms of tourism, there are positive and encouraging impacts on agricultural practices. Change in agricultural economies is often too large and complex to be attributed solely with tourism development. However, this should not be used an excuse for not being aware or prepared for the potential threats tourism pose to the agriculture (Forsyth,n.d.). Economic Impact Thai economy depends on the performance of its tourism sector’s performance to a considerable extent. More than half of the industries in Thailand are interdependent on tourism industry either directly or indirectly. Considering the scale of economic dependence on tourism, any internal or external change which is associated with tourism can have substantial impact on: resource allocation; output from the industry; income distribution; and major macroeconomic variables (Wattanakuljarus, 2005, p.2). During his research, Wattanakuljarus (2005) identifies that impact of changes in tourism on the economy and environment in Thailand include both benefits and costs. The benefits and costs are not spread across industries and institutions evenly. Tourism growth in Thailand directly stimulates higher growth in real GDP; however, it brings deterioration in trade balance due to real exchange rate appreciation and high domestic inflation rate. Despite the fact that trade balance is declining, the current account deficit can decrease due to the additional receipts of net inbound tourism that needs to be adequate to pay off the decrease in trade surplus. Tourism growth inspires domestic productions to utilize more capital, in particular, non-agricultural capital. It enhances the productivity of not only labour, but also land and forest. Consequently, economy-wide real wages and rate of return on land and forest also increases. Tourism growth benefits all classes of society by increasing consumption, incomes, and utility. Increasing income induces more consumption of every kind of goods and services, in particular, manufactured products from import substituting industries (ISI). Non-agriculture household benefits more when it comes to consumption, utility, and income. In every sector, benefits are concentrated in higher income groups rather than low income groups. By tourism growth, capital and labour owners in non-agriculture sector gain considerable profits. On the other hand, agricultural land and forest owners’ gains are minimal (pp.23-24). Wattanakuljarus (2005) further explains that tourism growth triggers GDP growth to a higher level in services which are associated with real GDP in manufacturing and agriculture. It is due to reduced exports volumes and increased volumes of imports in agriculture and manufacturing. Real exchange rate appreciation leads to reduced competitiveness of agriculture and manufacturing in export markets. Only tourism related industries, either directly or indirectly, hold the highest import volumes. The imported stuff is utilized as raw material or intermediate goods in the production of final product (p.24). When we consider industry outputs, industries which are facing reduction in output growth rates include: cassava, sugarcane, rubber, mining, and tapioca. The top industries experiencing increase in output growth rate include: hotel, publishing, transportation, personal home services, and leather or shoes in particular. In general, growth in tourism sector stimulates higher growth rates in domestic oriented industries (DOI) in comparison to export-oriented industries (EOI) or import-substituting industries (ISI).In agriculture sector, agricultural practices which utilize piped and irrigated water experience higher growth rate as compared to the practice which utilizes only irrigated water. Though some agricultural outputs have reduced growth rates, net growth of agricultural production is encouraging. Thus, tourism growth induces the extra utilization of both irrigated and piped water for agricultural practices (Wattanakuljarus, 2005, pp.24-25). In non-agriculture sector, despite the reduction in of growth rates of some manufacturing outputs, tourism growth keeps stimulating total manufacturing production for the sectors which consume large amount of piped water and produce higher quantities of waste-water. Research findings suggest that economy-wide extra usage of water is more in piped water as compared to irrigated water. Therefore, the net piped water consumption in agriculture and non-agriculture sectors and net waste-water discharge from manufacturing sectors are higher than they would have been in other case. Whether piped or irrigated, water comes from some natural source, therefore, natural water resource has to be expanded in order to meet the growing needs (Wattanakuljarus, 2005, p.25). Thai government has to subsidize cost of natural water production and distribution for agriculture and other piped water sectors through Royal Irrigation Department (RID).However, in order to bear the cost of water subsidization and other costs incurred by tourism expansion, Thai government must take its share from the top benefiting sectors (from tourism) in the form of sales tax or excise tax on tourism products and services. The study identifies the beneficiaries which include: hotel, transportation, restaurants, clothing and textile, communication, beverage, food manufacturing, and print publishing. The study identifies an insignificant impact of tourism on forests (Wattanakuljarus, 2005, p.25). Wattanakuljarus (2005) research reveals that tourism growth is directly related to increased water demands by both agriculture and non-agriculture sector. Keeping other factors fixed, the finding implies that it also increases waste-water discharges. If not managed and treated properly, the waste-water can contaminate clean water supply system. Similarly, tourism growth can also induce increased air pollution emission due to transport expansion, manufacturing production, and primary use of energy. These conditions will lead to increased environmental cost (pp.25-26). Ethnic Impact Ethnic tourism is a form of tourism in northern Thailand with peripheral economic gains or socio-cultural linkages. It became popular not only among foreign tourists but also domestic travelers due to its primitive, authentic, untouched and colorful representation by ethnic communities. The region is a tourist attraction due to distinctive and natural way of life. Growth of ethnic tourism has the potential to provide for village people. In some cases these ethnic minorities gain appreciation and recognition on state level. For instance, minorities residing in national parks or without citizenship are also accepted in one way or the other. Contrary to the positive impact, tourism gives birth to unharmonious relationship because of unequal distribution of gains, damaged natural sources, and need-based interaction between stakeholders. The problem arises when tourists want natives to stay primitive regardless of the fact that natives want to develop. In order to overcome this situation, ethnic touree is separated in two parts. One part is preserved which serve tourists in the form of museums, artificial souvenirs, and performances which work as a “staged authenticity”. The other part serves as natives’ contemporary lifestyle. Four decades of ethnic tourism at local level has led to the conclusion that it has destroyed the exotic culture of tourees (Leepreecha, 2005, p.15). Medical Impact It is extremely difficult to give an accurate estimate of the tourists who got medical treatments in Thailand. It is because governmental agencies and hospitals publish annual gross total of foreign tourists who availed medical treatments in Thailand(Cohen,n.d.,p.26).However, the number is increasing since 2000, and it doubled between 2002 and 2006(Sukin and Kurz as cited in Cohen,n.d.,p.26).According to a source, about 30 percent of total tourists in early 2000s are those who traveled to Thailand for medical procedures only(Khwankhom,2004 as cited in Cohen,n.d.,p.26).The percentage increased with Thailand’s growing popularity for doing medical treatments. It is because more hospitals are offering services to tourists; different specialties have emerged; and Thailand is being officially promoted extensively as a “health hub”. Medical tourism emerged on small scale in Thailand during 70s.However, it developed into a full-fledged business in late 1980s and early 1990s since private sector introduced state-of-the art medical technologies, and highly qualified and experienced professionals (Cohen, n.d., pp.25-27). Expansion of medical tourism in Thailand is relatively a new phenomenon; therefore, it may be premature to estimate its impact on Thai medical system. However, some conclusions can be drawn for medical tourism. Firstly, growing foreign clientele and subsequent upgrading of hospitals leads to have huge impact on middle class Thais who are not interested in 30-Baht scheme, however, private hospitals are beyond their reach(Suebsukcharoen,2006 cited in Cohen,n.d.,p.31).Secondly, there is an issue of brain drain since qualified medical staff and doctors move to private hospitals for better payment and working conditions(Pusaksrikit,2005:1A;Russell,2006;Sukin and Kurz,2006:3A cited in Cohen,n.d.,p.31). The situation is worsened by Thai government’s health policy and its competing interests.30-Baht scheme increased demand in government hospitals, however, the under-finances and under-staffed hospitals proved to be inadequate for the growing demands(The Nation,2006 cited in Cohen,n.d.,p.31).Consequently, the doctors and staff compensation and working conditions worsened. Government’s promotion of Thailand as a “health hub” further aggravated the situation. Medical tourism related boom created new and better opportunities for medical professionals (Khwankhom, 2006 cited in Cohen, n.d., p.31).The situation aggravated the existing imbalance between rural and urban areas, in addition to rich and poor class of Thai society. Though the issue is debatable, but each time a tourists visits a Thai doctor at high (foreign) price, a local resident’s opportunity to see the same doctor in normal Thai fee is gone. In this way, tourism may be bringing foreign capital to Thai hospitals, but it is depriving Thai people for medical care (Gerry, 2006 as cited in Cohen, n.d., p.32). It is estimated that amongst more than thousand government and private hospitals in Thailand, comparatively few hospitals get involved in medical tourism and cause major brain drain. The remaining professionals are estimated to be no more than half of medical practitioners in Thailand. However, the percentage seems to be underestimated. Even if it is considered to be true, it has overlooked the wide-spread brain drain reversal. Responding to the development of medical tourism in the country, significant number of foreign qualified and practicing medical practitioners came back to Thailand and got hired in foreign-oriented hospitals. In addition, tourism related investment in medical equipment, specialized trainings, and organization has raised the general standard of Thai medicine practice that can benefit the local population at large (Cohen, n.d., p.32). A socially important but ignored impact of medical tourism is the change of relationship between patient and doctor. As a result of local doctors’ engagement with foreign patients, traditional patient-doctor relation which was characterized by authoritative doctor rather than kru (teacher) is changed. Doctors meet the patient with a consultative attitude rather than authoritative one. This positive change will lead to have a good impact on medical practice in general. Medical tourism has an impact over local medical practices in the experimental treatments for critically ill patients. They use the procedures which are not authorized in western countries, such as, stem cells. Despite the prohibitive cost of such experimental treatments, potential demand from foreign patients is leading to the development of this practice. Considering the potential, is inferred that Thailand can become a leader in this emerging field. This development can not only strengthen the country’s medical reputation, but it will also provide innovative treatments to wide strata of its local population (Cohen, n.d., p.32). Sex Industry Impact Sex tourism is a considerable part of overall tourism activities in Thailand. It originated in Vietnam War during 1960-1970s.American military man were the prime customers for Rest and Recreation(R&R).Number of prostitutes multiplied from 20,000 to 400,000 now. Word of mouth and media promotions made Thailand famous as sex paradise for not only foreign tourists but also locals. The reputation may have brought foreign exchange in the country, but it severely damaged its image (Nuttavuthisit, 2007, pp.21-22).According to WTO (2000), with 2.5 million cases, Thailand was the first Asian country that got affected by AIDS in 1987(cited in (Nuttavuthisit, 2007, pp.21-22). With increasing acceptance for homosexuality in Thai culture, gay and lesbian tourists are also increasing with every passing day. It is certainly the darker side of global tourism phenomenon. Unfortunately, it is a key aspect of the itinerary of the western tourists visiting Asia, in particular, Southeast Asia. Tourism’s positive impacts are always discussed, however, negative impacts in the areas like sex tourism and gambling are quite ignored, There is rarely a talk about young girls and women trafficking from Myanmar and Yunan to Thailand as dancers, entertainers, sex workers, mail order brides, and domestic servants. The silence is maintained on the packages which host countries offer sex tour to Asia to men with low income in Europe and America. Even darker side of this practice is pedophilia, its’ a kind of sex tourism which exploits young kids (girls and boys) for their trade (CPT MTM, 2011, pp.79-80). Major factors that lead women and kids to prostitution are poverty and lacking opportunities in industry, in particular for uneducated and underprivileged. In a consumerist world today, sex tourism provides them incentive and better working conditions for a decent living. It is because children try other working option first, however, scarce choices and lack of education direct these marginalized individuals into sex with adults as it pays better(Montgomery,2008,pp.906-914).Indeed, it is high time for Thai government to control sex tourism before it’s too late for their social values destroy completely. Thailand tourism has benefitted its people on economic grounds by bringing in foreign exchange and boosting its manufacturing and industrial capacity. Despite the success as a favorite tourist resort, Thailand’s tourism industry has to face different problems and controversies. Thailand is criticized for tourism quantity rather than quality. Uncontrolled tourism activities caused unequal distribution of financial gains which are in favor of big stakeholders while costs are shared by those who are not beneficiaries of the tourism. Thai culture is extensively promoted as exotic; however, commercialization of tourism has destroyed and corrupted the culture and tradition on a large scale. Moreover, local and urban culture interaction leads to corrosive or negative impact on native Thai people (Pfotenhauer and Mingsarn, 1994, pp.23-26). Different forms of sustainable tourism, such as, Ecotourism and community-based tourism are showing the light of hope in this situation of distress when it comes to ethnic tourism in northern Thailand. It is an encouragingly positive and comparative trend of tourism. According to Leepreecha(2005,p.15) these kinds of tourism are inspiring native people to not only participate but play a key role in organizing tourism related activities with their complete will and self-esteem. New kinds of tourism are causing a paradigm shift that holds a relationship of understanding ad respect between tourist and touree. These forms of tourism lead to sustainable tourism since villagers don’t completely depend on tourism. Works Cited Anderson, S.V. (Unpub-lished Mimeograph).Eco-tourism: Eco-terrorism.Paper presented at the international work-shop at the Center for Ecological Eco-nomics. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 1-3 September 1997. Berger, A.A., 2007.Thailand Tourism. 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Third World Quarterly, 29(5), pp.903-917. Nuttavuthisit, K., 2007.Branding Thailand: Correcting the Negative Image of Sex Tourism. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 3, pp: 21-30. Pfotenhauer,L.M. and Mingsarn,S.K.,1994.Thailand’s Tourism Industry-What Do We Gain and Lose? TDRI Quarterly Review, 9(3), pp.23-26. Rattanasuwongchai, N., 1998.Rural Tourism-The Impact on Rural Communities II. Thailand.[pdf] Thailand:Department of Career Sciences.Available at: [Accessed 22 October 2011]. Wattanakuljarus,A.,2005.The Nationwide Economic and Environmental Impacts of Tourism: A Computable General Equilibrium Approach for Thailand.[PDF] Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison: The Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia(EEPSEA).Available at: [Accessed 21 October 2011]. Read More