The Eco Scuba Tourism Management: Case study at Koh Tao, Koh Tao District, Phangan, Surathanee

Abstract

This article “The integrated scuba tourism management” arose from a part of the preliminary study of larger a doctorate study entitled “A Model of Development Eco Scuba Tourism Management in Gulf of Thailand” case study at Koh Tao, Pangan, Surathanee province. The objective of this research was to study about the scuba tourist’s behavior by conduct qualitative research and using depth interview with structure questionnaire in private and public sectors and the selected person consist of Village Headman, Village leader, Mayor, PADI Course Director, Business owner, Marine science specialist and tourist, Hotel and resort owner and representative from community all total 20 persons. Then use the SWOT analysis to analyses both external and internal factors together with content analysis.

The research result found that the number of scuba tourist is increasing every year. Almost 25 million scuba diver around the world by statistical of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructor) and Koh Tao is the destination of scuba tourist. Refer to the Tourism Authority of Thailand mention that Koh Tao is the highest place that certified scuba diver and all business concerned i.e. hotel resort scuba diving school restaurant are integrated generate income to community. 

Due to Koh Tao has plentiful of the natural resources both on the island and under the sea for example coral, sea animal. Once the number of tourist increasing and tourism industry had expanded by build infrastructure like hotel, resort then create pollution garbage, waste water direct to the sea with destroy environment. All these problems affect direct to community in Koh Tao and how to make a sustainable with Eco-tourism to protect the environment for next generation and future.