Chuanpit Thiwaphan. Tourist opinions on tourist attraction environmental problems : a case study of Koh Samui district, Surat Thani province . Master's Degree(Environment). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Tourist opinions on tourist attraction environmental problems : a case study of Koh Samui district, Surat Thani province
Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to study tourist opinions on tourist attraction
environmental problems in Koh Samui District; Surat Thani Province, factors
affecting tourist opinions, problems leading to the degradation of the environment and
finally, tourist recommendations for curbing tourism-related environmental problems.
The study was carried out using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The sample
for the quantitative research comprised 200 Thai tourists and 200 foreigners, 18 years
of age and up who stay at Koh Samui at least for 1 night. Data was collected using
self-administered questionnaires. The sample for qualitative research comprised 29
local persons in leadership positions, such as businessmen, municipal councilors and
government officers. Data was collected by means of in-depth interview.
The results showed that: 1) The level of tourist opinions on tourist attraction
environmental problems was at high. 2) The results of ANOVA analysis indicated that
nationality and the purpose for traveling affected tourists’ opinions of tourism-related
environmental problems at the statistical significance level of 0.05. While gender, age,
occupation, education, average income, duration of stay, number of visits, forms of
visiting travel, placing on the environmental value message perception on
conservation of natural tourist attractions and knowledge about the conservation of
natural tourist attractions did not affect the opinions of tourists. Moreover, it was
found that age had a positive correlation with opinions of tourists concerning touristrelated
environmental problems but duration of stay and number of visits had a
negative correlation with tourists’ opinion of tourism-related environmental problems.
The recommendations were to prepare a report indicating the extent of the
environmental degradation caused by tourism as well as certain proposals aimed at
solving the existing tourism related environmental problems through legal, social and
public relation means