A Tourism History of Koh Samui, Thailand: Change and Adaptation in the Tourism Period

Through an ethnographic study of Koh Samui, this volume examines tourism development on the island in the southern part of Thailand within tourism history perspective. The focus of this book goes beyond the account of the interaction between Koh Samui and its tourism development. It views tourism as a cause of modern history on the island which the present society of Koh Samui is the product of reinforcement between global tourism and the island’s historical and cultural legacy. This book proposes tourism history approach to advance our understanding of tourism and social change as well as the meaning of culture, livelihood, landscape and development on the island during its tourism development period. By drawing on Koh Samui case study, this book shows that by including issues of national heritage and traditional culture, it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of a tourist destination society in its tourism development period.