Social capital in participatory planing for local tourism development: a case study of Samui Island, Thailand

Abstract

Community participation as a strategy for local tourism development has become an important mechanism to promote sustainable tourism. This paper explores various aspects of community participatory planning process in local tourism development on Samui Island, Thailand. Factors associated with intensity of participation of local people in the planning process organized by community-based group on Samui Island were examined through decisionmaking,implementation, and monitoring and evaluation phases.The case shows how community participation was conducted and organized by the local people during those stages of the planning process and how it could be replicated in other communities. Main mechanism imperative for the success of the planning and implementation of local tourism activities was significantly addressed on social capital as a driver in various stages of the local tourism planning process.