Community Participation in Tourism Safety Management in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani Province

Abstract

Tourism is a significant industry that contributes substantially to Thailand’s economy, especially through events such as the Full Moon Party. However, one crucial issue that requires greater attention is the safety and security of tourists, as Thailand receives one of the lowest safety ratings in the ASEAN region—a key component in determining the quality of tourism. Therefore, this research aims to study and analyze unsafe tourism situations in Koh Phangan, examine the participation of community leaders and stakeholders in managing tourism safety, and propose guidelines to enhance community participation in safe tourism management in the area.

           This qualitative study utilized document analysis and in-depth interviews with key informants. A semi-structured interview guide was employed as the research instrument, and data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that: 1. The unsafe tourism conditions in Koh Phangan have been affected by the decline in international tourist arrivals, primarily due to negative perceptions regarding safety in Thailand, which has led to growing concerns among visitors. 2.The participation of community leaders and stakeholders in tourism safety management in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani Province, was found to involve four key stages: (1) participation in decision-making, (2) participation in implementation, (3) participation in benefit-sharing, and (4) participation in evaluation. 3. The proposed guidelines for improving community participation in safe tourism management include enhancing safety-related engagement, strengthening participation in network collaboration, and increasing involvement in policy-making processes.