ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Sustainable Environment and Tourism
Industry: An Institutional Policy Analysis
of Northeastern Thailand
Juan Carlos Calderon Lopez1,2, Kampanad Bhaktikul1
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1Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
2Agricultural Research Faculty, Dr. José Matías Delgado University, El Salvador
Submission date: 2017-04-12
Final revision date: 2017-05-09
Acceptance date: 2017-06-21
Online publication date: 2017-11-23
Publication date: 2018-01-02
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2018;27(1):31-37
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ABSTRACT
The aim of this research is to evaluate and assess the tourism policies and environmental sustainability
related to the tourism industry in the Khon Kaen province of Thailand. The tourism industry is one of the
greatest contributors to gross domestic product (GDP) in Thailand. Therefore, the relationship of tourism
with the three pillars of sustainable development, i.e., economic, environmental, and social, is very
important. To analyze the situation we used qualitative and quantitative approaches. Likewise, primary
and secondary data were collected using different sets of tools. Moreover, we applied different statistical
models and tests such as the Friedman scale method, Range table analysis, and multiple comparison ranks.
Our results showed that Khon Kaen was a good contributor to the economy of Thailand. The analysis
showed that the highest percentage (26%) of activities was related to hiking of mountain areas. Nonetheless,
museums and educational parks ranked second with 20% followed by temples at 14%. National parks
represented 11% of the total attraction spots. Local policy makers need to design a sustainable tourism
policy framework while keeping in view the sustainable environment. Coordination among public and
private sectors may also help to promote a sustainable tourism industry.