Tourism and Sustainable Development in Thailand - Literature review Example

In recent decades, the world has been experiencing a boom in tourism. The inhabitants of the planet have broken the historical record by travelling very much to discover other cultures. The growth of tourism has made it one of the largest industries in the globe. Similarly, it is argued that the increase of tourism destinations around the globe has led to many nations to become important creators of international tourism. Some of the significant factors associated with the growth of tourism include economic growth in tourism engendering nations, growth of intra-regional tourism, and development of new destinations. Tourism represents an important ingredient of many nations’ development policies. It contributes approximately 20 per cent to less developed economies’ gross domestic product (GDP). One of the countries that have reaped the fruits of tourism as much as socio-economic development is concerned is Thailand. In connection with this, the paper aims at expounding on tourism and its sustainable development in Thailand. In addressing this, the paper will provide a brief review of historical and contemporary growth of tourism in Thailand, developmental challenges facing the country, and the potential of tourism contributing sustainable development in the country.

Historical and Contemporary Growth of Tourism in Thailand

Kontogeorgopoulos (1998, p. 226) asserts that international tourism in Thailand originated from King Mongkut (Rama IV) and King Chulalongkorn’s (Rama V) modernization reforms of mid-19th century. Open-door economic policies not only resulted in the construction of Western-oriented hotels, but also introduction of tour activities. Similarly, Kontogeorgopoulos (1998, p. 226) claims that the extensive travel of Rama V throughout Europe suffused tourism with not only symbolic value, but also legitimacy in the country. The holding of royal holidays in the seaside resort in Hua Hin town as well as the Gulf of Siam coast in addition to the construction of a Royal Palace in that coast in early 1900s enhanced growth of domestic tourism in Thailand. In support of this, Kontogeorgopoulos states that Thai elites started travelling to Hua Hin and other areas within Thailand. Although tourism in Thailand started in early 1900s, international tourists started arriving in Thailand in high numbers in the 1960s. According Kontogeorgopoulos (1998, p. 226), the arrival of international tourists was very significant; it laid a foundation for tourism industry in Thailand. A great percentage of tourists who arrived in Thailand between 1930s and 1950s were British and French citizens who used Thailand as a route to their colonial possessions. However, American travellers later surpassed other Europeans as the main source of tourism in Thailand because of the devastation caused by the Second World War. According to s and to Kontogeorgopoulos (1998, p. 226), the British and American tourists made up 59% of all the overseas tourists that arrived in Thailand in 1957. Despite all the progress described in the above paragraph, the establishment as well as growth of tourism in Thailand as a regulated and organized industry started in the administration of Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat that took place between 1957 and 1963 (Kontogeorgopoulos 1998, p. 226). Similarly, Kontogeorgopoulos argues that the World Bank contributed to the growth of the industry during this period by inspiring development policies. According to Kontogeorgopoulos, Sarit’s opening of Thailand’s economy to foreign investment with the intention of bolstering foreign exchange reserves encouraged tourism growth in the country. Apart from providing tax holidays in addition to other investment rewards to local as well as foreign tourism operators, Sarit government capitalized in infrastructure that led to vast improvements in construction of roads, water plus electric supply, and banking. Equivalently, vast investment in infrastructure by Sarit government also led to the improvement in trading, communications as well as government services. According to Kontogeorgopoulos (1998, p. 226), infrastructural achievements during Sarit’s administration paved way for development of a great tourism industry. In connection with this, Kontogeorgopoulos further notes that Sarit introduced the Tourism Organization of Thailand (TOT) in 1960 to superintend tourism advertising plus promotion.

The period between 1965 and 1975 resulted in massive social as well as economic changes in many parts of Thailand because of the presence of American troops. Apart from investing heavily in military and supporting Thailand economically, the U.S. formed military bases all over the country, specifically in northern and northeastern parts of Thailand. The presence of the troops also encouraged construction boom in addition to emergence of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. It also led to the construction of other catering services for American GIs. In tandem with this, Harrison (191) states that the number of tourists visiting Thailand has been increasing significantly since in 1970s. In support of his argument, he states that 1 million tourists visited Thailand in 1973, 2 million tourists in 1981, 4 million in 1988, and over 7.5 million in 1998 (Harrison p.191).

In connection with Kontogeorgopoulos argument, a person can deduce that the presence of American military in Thailand resulted in three key changes to the country’s tourism industry. Apart from increasing direct entry of foreign visitors through American soldiers’ R&R trips, it indirectly increased visits of travellers from many places by popularizing tourism via international media images. Their presence also catalyzed the emergent of tourism development through growth of businesses and services to meet the leisure requirements of American GIs. In addition to this, tourism activities linked to GIs on R&R vacations in addition to permanent stationing of American troops in Thailand significantly shaped the international presentation of Thailand. Similarly, the activities attracted specific tourists as from 1960s onwards.

Development Challenges Facing Tourism Industry in Thailand

According to Harrison (p.191), tourism is Thailand’s leading source of foreign revenue. According to World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC 2015, p.1), the direct contribution of tourism to Thailand’s total GDP in 2014 was 8.6%. WTTC further claims that the value was expected to rise by 3.4% in the previous year, 2015. The total contribution of tourism to Thailand’s total GDP in 2014 according to WTTC was 19.3%. In support of this, WTTC (2015, p.1) claims that industry resulted in 2,210,000 jobs which is 5.8% of the total employment in Thailand. The number of individuals directly supported by the tourism industry was expected to increase by 0.2% in 2015 and 4.6% per annum to 3,476,000 jobs by 2025. According to WTTC (2015, p.1), the total contribution of tourism to employment in 2014, counting jobs indirectly sustained by industry, was 14.1% of all employments (5,383,000 jobs) in Thailand. The number of employment beneficiaries was expected to rise by 1% by 2015 to about 5,434,500 jobs as well as 4.1% per annum to result in 8,140,000 jobs in 2025 which will be 20.2% of total employments in Thailand. From the WTTC statistics, it is apparent that tourism is a very important tool used to improve economies and promote development through creating jobs.

Despite the above argument, it is evident that Thailand is experiencing many diverse tourism development challenges. Some of the challenges of the challenges include political issues, labor shortages, traffic and safety issues, high cost of living, healthcare plus waste management, environment degradation, and competition between local and international investors. According to Kantawateera et al. (2014, p.89), transportation infrastructure is important for not only regional development, but also support of economic activities. Kantawateera et al. believes that transportation is the main factor that promotes activities of visitors. However, they claim that transportation system in Thailand have failed to meet the needs of the city’s population as well as visitors since increase in users of the transportation system has resulted to traffic jam and accidents. According to Kantawateera et al. (2014, p.89), jam and accidents are some of the things that have tainted Thailand’s tourist image. In support of their claim, Kantawateera et al. state that Khon Kaen, the largest central city located in northern Thailand and among the fastest-growing economies in the country faces many problems. Traffic jams together with inadequacy of public transportation are the leading obstacles for local residents plus tourists who travel to Khon Kaen (Kantawateera et al., 2014, p.90). The transportation problems remain issues of concern in the city despite it generating over 278 million USD from tourist visits (Kantawateera et al., 2014, p.90).

It is known globally that environmental disasters have hit almost every corner of the globe. The occurrence of unprecedented natural disasters affects the development of many nations (Telfer and Sharpley, 2012). In connection with this, it is evident that Thailand, a fast industrial growing nation, is facing severe environmental degradation. In support of this, Ping (2011, p.1) claims that Thailand is not only experiencing climate change, intensive farming, and water pollution, but also air pollution, resource depletion, and waste generation. According to Ping, the lives of Thai people are influenced by a widespread of environmental problems. To back this, Ping notes that intensive farming in northern Thailand resulted in the loss of species, crops, as well as wild plants and animals (Ping 2011, p.4). These problems contribute to the reduction in number of tourists who visit the area to look at the various ruins and temples. Central Thailand on the other hand experience air pollution as a result of congestion caused by large number of people in that city. According to Ping (2011, p.2), congestion and pollution of Central Thailand affects the rapid development of tourism industry that is encouraged by existence of the renowned Chao Phraya River. In addition to this, Ping (2011, p.2) argues that Southern Thailand has a long coastline in addition to countless islands that attract tourists. He also argues that Southern Thailand is surrounded by the Gulf of Thailand as well as Andaman Sea which is great tourist attractors. The problem however is the climate change that results in the frequent floods plus infrequent tsunami that affect its people (Ping 2011, p.3). According to UNEP, Thailand is facing unprecedented global warming for the past 100 years that has made the global sea level to rise by 10 centimeters (Ping 2011, p.4).

As it was introduced above, healthcare and waste management are some of the challenges that affect tourism industry in Thailand. According to Ping (2011, p.5), urban runoff, untreated sewage, animal dung, acid rain as well as ship transport, septic tank, manure spreading, and eutrophication pollute water in Thailand. The shocking statistics according to Ping (2011, p.5) is that “92.68% of the total area in Thailand is at risk from water pollution. Within these risk areas, 6.87% is classified as high risk and could impact approximately 4,440,049 Thai citizens if corrective action is not taken immediately.” Similarly, air pollution is critical problem in Thailand that not only makes Thai people sick and harms the environment, but also impairs with tourism industry. In connection with this, Ping (2011, p.5) claims that the gases (NO2, hydrocarbons, and SO2) emitted by transportation, industry besides electricity generation results in acid rain which is detrimental. Equivalently, epidemic disease affects the competitiveness of Thai tourism industry. The high incidence of HIV/AIDS in Thailand has impaired with international tourists’ perceptions of what constitutes a safe as well as acceptable destination. The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS presents the public image of Thailand in a very negative way. Apart from HIV/AIDS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in addition to avian influenza (bird flu) has affected tourism industry in Thailand (Thitthongkam and Walsh 2011, p.138). In support of this, Thitthongkam and Walsh claim that SARS left a significant negative effect in history of Thai tourism in 2003. During that year, the number of tourists vising Thailand dropped by 3.36 percent and foreign revenue dropped by 4.39 percent.

Tourism industry in Thailand is experiencing a big blow from labor shortage. According to Soh (2008, p.3), the increase of visitors in Thailand has led to rise in demand for human resources. In connection, Soh notes that 27 million visitors that visited Thailand in 2007 strained the then existing human resources. Similarly Webster (2006, p.5) argues that the number of trained people is insignificant, leading to conversion of rice farmers into waiters in rural areas. Considering this, Soh claims that tourism together with hospitality industry is likely to run the risk of dropping in standards due to few people entering the workforce.

Thai tourism industry is also affected by political turmoil. According to Thitthongkam and Walsh (2011, p.138), the political turmoil together with the military coup d’états that took place in 1992 as well as in 2006 jolted a significant number of companies within tourism industry in Thailand and resulted in many negative effects. The political turmoil as well as the coups made international tourists investors plus people associated with Thailand’s tourism industry extremely uncomfortable with the state of affairs. Similarly, TAT noted that political instability made many international tourists to leave Thailand early. According to Thitthongkam and Walsh (2011, p.138), the number of tourists in 2008 following the political turmoil and coup decreased by 380,000 people (2.65%) and the income generated from tourism dropped by 5 percent.

According to Sakolnakorn, Naipinit and Kroeksakul (2013, p.76), “competition between local businesses and international investors affect development of tourism industry in Thailand.” In support of this, Ritchie and Crouch (2003, p.18) argue that local businesses in most occasions are deprived competitive advantages such as knowledge, technology in addition to investment funds and business ethics enjoyed by international investors. Considering their argument, it is evident that local businesses find it very challenging to compete effectively with the international investors, resulting in differences.

The Potential of Tourism Contributing to Sustainable Development in Thailand

Dresner (2012, p.2) states that the meaning of sustainable development significantly because of people’s interests. Some people use the term to destroy the environment whereas others fear very much about the future leading to halt of economic growth. According to Dresner (2012, p.2), concern on sustainability should be grounded on moral obligation of future generations. According to Sharpley (2009, p.67), tourism as a global activity can affect sustainable development in Thailand negatively. In support of this, Sharpley argues that tourism is associated with consumption of resources, creation of wastes, and excessive development of infrastructures. According to him, tourism will exploit resources in Thailand through development as well as activities of tourists. Similarly, Sharpley argues that tourism creates waste at the destination level through pollution and emission of greenhouse gas. In addition to this, Sharpley (2009, p.67) laments that tourism development may cause over-exploitation of resources; which is contrary to sustainable development expected in Thailand. Sharpley (2009, p.60) also notes that the survival of tourism industry in Thailand will require it to compete with the needs of local communities for scarce resources such as space, water, and power. In connection with this argument, it is evident that urban tourism will contribute to deterioration of Thailand’s sustainability since many resources will be used to boost tourism activities. Despite all these, it is apparent that tourism has a great potential of contributing to sustainable development in Thailand. According to Sharpley (2009, p.60), the seeing of tourism in terms of cultural preservation as well as socio-economic benefits can make tourism market not only sustainable, but also grow. The growth of this industry as it was argued above has numerous advantages. Apart from enhancing development of infrastructure, it contributes to a country’s GDP through foreign currency that is brought by visitors.

The success of tourism industry in contributing to sustainable development in Thailand depends on how it is considered together with other economic activities when making development decisions. According to Sharpley (2009, p.71), giving tourism and other economic activities equal attention will contribute to sustainable development of Thailand. Similarly, Sharpley (2009, p.78) claims that sustainable tourism development calls for transformation in social values as well as in lifestyles in general in addition to adoption of “responsible” utilization of resources. Considering this claim, it is evident that tourism can contribute to sustainable development in Thailand (Wearing, S. and Neill, 2013, p.130). One can note that the industry can lead to change of the current condition in Thailand to promote tourism. As it was argued before, pollution caused by garbage thrown everywhere plus loss of species caused by agricultural activities and uncontrolled deforestation can be regulated to boost tourism industry. Such measures are not only for the good of the country’s economy, but also sustainable development. Sharpley (2009, p.78) also argues that demand management is very crucial for sustainable development of tourism. With this in mind, one can deduce that Thailand will be forced to protect areas as well as species that attract tourists (Boyd, Jalal and Rogers 2012, p.24). In other words, the country will be forced to provide protection to things they consider “tourist demands” in order to promote the tourism industry. As it was argued before, protection of factors that promote tourism is one of the best ways of enhancing sustainable development.

According to Dearden (1991, p.400), a report by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development linked poverty with environmental degradation. Considering this, Honey (2008, p.4) also argues that economic development is the best solution for easing poverty in developing as well as less developed countries. According to Dearden and Honey, tourism is one of the sustainable developments that need to be adapted when dealing with poverty issues. Although tourism results in environmental impacts as argued by Sharpley, their effects are minor when compared with other forms of development. Thus, eradication of poverty through tourism will contribute to reduction of practices such as deforestation that affect the sustainability of Thailand.

In conclusion, Thailand is one of the first growing nations in the world that is reaping the fruits of tourism industry. The high of tourist visitors to the country contribute significantly to its economic sustainability. Tourism industry in Thailand started in early 1900s. The presence of the U.S. troops in Thailand in 1960s contributed significantly to establishment of tourism industry in Thailand. Tourism industry in Thailand experiences diverse developmental challenges. Apart from water pollution, air pollution, and environmental degradation, political issues and labor shortage affects tourism industry in Thailand. Tourism industry in Thailand is also affected by traffic and safety issues in addition to completion between local businesses and international investors. Tourism industry can affect Thailand’s sustainability in different ways. The industry may contribute to degradation of the country’s resources if a lot of resources will be used to establish it in Thailand. Tourism industry may also promote sustainability by eradicating poverty through boosting economic development of Thailand. It may also promote sustainable development by promoting behaviors that encourage sustainability of resources that attract tourist activities.

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