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Policy Pathways for Regenerative Tourism in Krabi, Thailand: Implications for Circular Economy and Community-Based Governance
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This paper isn't actually about human health — it's about how tourist destinations like Krabi, Thailand can reduce plastic waste and environmental damage while giving local communities more say in how tourism is managed. Researchers looked at what's working in places like Bali, Spain, and the Netherlands to suggest policy changes that make tourism more sustainable long-term. While it doesn't directly study health effects, less plastic pollution in coastal areas can mean cleaner water and food sources for both residents and visitors.
Tourism is a key driver of economic growth in Thailand, but it also generates significant environmental and socio-economic pressures, particularly in coastal destinations such as Krabi. Increasing plastic pollution, resource stress, and socio-economic inequalities highlight the limitations of conventional tourism models and the need for more transformative approaches. This study examines how tourism development in Krabican be reshaped to support a transition toward regenerative tourism, through the integration of circular economy practices and community-based governance. Using qualitative methods, including stakeholder interviews and comparative analysis of Bali and selected European destinations (Spain and the Netherlands), the study identifies key challenges, opportunities, and policy pathways for sustainable tourism transformation.
More Papers Like This
Ecological Tourism Development in Small Islands: Meta-Analysis of Ecological Resources, Community Welfare, and Community Participation in Sustainability 2019-2024
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This review of five years of research on island ecotourism finds that when local communities help protect natural areas like mangroves and coastlines, both the environment and residents' well-being benefit. It also flags a growing concern: microplastic pollution is increasingly showing up in these coastal ecosystems, which matters for human health since these plastics can enter the food chain through seafood and eventually end up on our plates. The takeaway is that sustainable, community-led tourism isn't just good for local culture and economies—it's a practical tool for keeping our oceans and food supply cleaner.
Blue carbon ecotourism business model as a catalyst for conservation: An embedded single case study of West Bali National Park
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Researchers studied an ecotourism program in a Bali national park that protects mangroves and seagrass beds—coastal ecosystems that store carbon, support marine life, and help buffer coastlines from climate change. They found that plastic waste and poor recycling practices among local businesses are undermining these benefits, and suggest that tourism programs designed around education and eco-friendly practices could better protect these ecosystems. This matters for human health because healthy coastal ecosystems filter pollutants and reduce plastic waste in our oceans, which otherwise breaks down into microplastics that end up in seafood and drinking water.
Challenges in Implementing Sustainable Marine Tourism Policy against the Threat of Waste in Coastal Areas
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Researchers investigated the challenges of implementing sustainable marine tourism policies against plastic waste pollution at coastal sites in Indonesia, including Kuta Beach, Bali, finding that government policy alone is insufficient and that community participation is essential for effective waste management.
An Economic Analysis of Local Communities Perceptions of Multidimensional Factors Influencing Tourism Sustainability in Tirupati District
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A study of 300 residents near India's Tirupati temple, visited by over 15 million pilgrims yearly, found that while nearly all locals say tourism boosts jobs and income, most (87%) also report serious environmental problems like plastic pollution, water contamination, and overcrowding. This matters because pollution from mass tourism doesn't just harm the environment, contaminated water and plastic waste can eventually affect the health of both residents and visitors, making the researchers' call for better waste management and green infrastructure a public health issue as much as an environmental one.
Innovative Synergy of Circular Economy and Environmental Literacy: Transforming Eco-Tourism for Marine Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration
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A study of coastal communities in Indonesia found that combining eco-friendly tourism practices (like recycling and reducing waste) with better public education about the environment helps reduce plastic pollution and restore marine ecosystems. This matters because healthier oceans mean less plastic breaking down into microplastics that end up in seafood and drinking water, but the research shows that education and green tourism alone aren't enough, real progress also requires government policies and community-wide action, not just individual eco-friendly choices.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.