Koh Phi Phi, Thailand: Moving Towards or Away from Sustainability?

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The characteristic complexities related to planning, development and management in island destinations give rise to resource management and governance issues, specially those that related to the potential success of sustainable development policies and strategies (Douglas, 2006).The purpose of this paper is to investigate stakeholders and their influence on achieving sustainability practices within the island tourism destination of Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. This topic was chosen due to the importance of tourism to island economies and the role that varying stakeholders (government, industry, non-governmental organizations, local community) can contribute to move toward, or in some cases, away from sustainability within this context. A study to identify impeding factors and related strategies was conducted in Koh Phi Phi in the Spring and Winter of 2007. Key informant interviews with stakeholders were conducted to provide an in-depth analysis of barriers to implementing sustainability practices within an island context. This article explores the concept of sustainable tourism and in particular, by using the Theory of the Commons as a starting point, examines if such an idea can exist among stakeholders.

Stream: Environmental Sustainability, Cultural Sustainability, Economic Sustainability, Social Sustainability

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Rachel Dodds’ research focuses on practical, applied management and development of tourism. Her past research has examined policy implementation in small islands as it relates to sustainable tourism as well as work in urban sustainable tourism, corporate social responsibility and climate change. Rachel has industry experience in all facets of the tourism industry ranging from hotels to government and small business. In addition to her university position, Rachel is also the Director of Sustaining Tourism, a consultantcy firm as well as a founding member of Canada's Icarus Foundation - an NGO set up to focus on climate change and tourism.