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Land Use and Natural Resources Planning for Sustainable Ecotourism Using GIS in Surat Thani, Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Khwanruthai Bunruamkaew

    (Division of Spatial Information Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan)

  • Yuji Murayama

    (Division of Spatial Information Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan)

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the land use and natural resources for future sustainable ecotourism site planning using GIS as a tool. The study is based on 2007 land use land cover data and ecotourism suitability data which are then integrated with other GIS datasets to evaluate the land use and natural resources at a district level in Surat Thani province. The final step of this study was the prioritization of the area that is best suited for ecotourism in assessing ecotourism sustainability in Surat Thani province. The result is useful for tourism facilities development and ecotourism resource utilization where ecotourism could be more developed. Additionally, the results can be used for managers and planners working in local and central governments and other non-governmental organizations. These integrated approaches cover complex and universal issues such as sustainable development of ecotourism, biodiversity conservation and protected area management in a tropical and developing country such as Thailand. Moreover, it is believed that this study can be used as a basis for evaluating the suitability of other areas for ecotourism. In addition, it may also serve as a starting point for more complex studies in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Khwanruthai Bunruamkaew & Yuji Murayama, 2012. "Land Use and Natural Resources Planning for Sustainable Ecotourism Using GIS in Surat Thani, Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:4:y:2012:i:3:p:412-429:d:16774
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. E. B. Barbier & J. C. Burgess, 2001. "The Economics of Tropical Deforestation," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(3), pages 413-433, July.
    2. Duong Dang Khoi & Yuji Murayama, 2010. "Delineation of Suitable Cropland Areas Using a GIS Based Multi-Criteria Evaluation Approach in the Tam Dao National Park Region, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(7), pages 1-20, July.
    3. repec:bla:jecsur:v:15:y:2001:i:3:p:413-33 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Marsh, Sally P & MacAulay, T. Gordon, . "Land reform and the development of commercial agriculture in Vietnam: policy and issues," Australasian Agribusiness Review, University of Melbourne, Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, vol. 10, pages 1-19.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Nazifa Rafa & Samiha Nuzhat & Sayed Mohammad Nazim Uddin & Mukesh Gupta & Rahul Rakshit, 2021. "Ecotourism as a Forest Conservation Tool: An NDVI Analysis of the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark in Chattogram, Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Antonella Lerario & Antonietta Varasano & Silvia Di Turi & Nicola Maiellaro, 2017. "Smart Tirana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Peter Chrastina & Pavel Hronček & Bohuslava Gregorová & Michaela Žoncová, 2020. "Land-Use Changes of Historical Rural Landscape—Heritage, Protection, and Sustainable Ecotourism: Case Study of Slovak Exclave Čív (Piliscsév) in Komárom-Esztergom County (Hungary)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-25, July.
    4. Lingling Chen & Brijesh Thapa & Jinwon Kim & Lin Yi, 2017. "Landscape Optimization in a Highly Urbanized Tourism Destination: An Integrated Approach in Nanjing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-20, December.
    5. Asyma Koshim & Aigul Sergeyeva & Yerkin Kakimzhanov & Aliya Aktymbayeva & Mereke Sakypbek & Akmaral Sapiyeva, 2023. "Sustainable Development of Ecotourism in “Altynemel” National Park, Kazakhstan: Assessment through the Perception of Residents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    6. María Camila Sánchez-Prieto & Antonio Luna-González & Alejandro Espinoza-Tenorio & Héctor Abelardo González-Ocampo, 2021. "Planning Ecotourism in Coastal Protected Areas; Projecting Temporal Management Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-13, July.
    7. Marvin Ruano & Chien-Yi Huang & Phi-Hung Nguyen & Lan-Anh Thi Nguyen & Hong-Quan Le & Linh-Chi Tran, 2023. "Enhancing Sustainability in Belize’s Ecotourism Sector: A Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy DEMATEL Investigation of Key Indicators," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-29, June.
    8. Rose Ann A. Villarias & Kristin Iris G. Estores, 2021. "Resort Management Practices and Tourism Impacts of an Island Resort in Negros Occidental," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 23(1), pages 823-845, September.
    9. Marzieh Fallah & Lanndon Ocampo, 2021. "The use of the Delphi method with non-parametric analysis for identifying sustainability criteria and indicators in evaluating ecotourism management: the case of Penang National Park (Malaysia)," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 45-62, March.
    10. Kibru Alemu Gedecho & Abdi Shukri Yasin & Bernadett Horváthné Kovács & Zsuzsanna Bacsi, 2025. "Rural Tourism and Land Use: Unveiling Global Research Trends, Gaps, and Future Pathways," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, September.
    11. Peer Jeelani & Huma Rashid & Shamim Ahmad Shah & Farzana Ahad & Shabana Gulzar, 2025. "Sustainability in tourism demands a mode shift: Appraisal of heritage tourism; a safe bet for developing regions," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 49(1), pages 614-636, February.
    12. Shairy Chaudhary & Atul Kumar & Malay Pramanik & Mahabir Singh Negi, 2022. "Land evaluation and sustainable development of ecotourism in the Garhwal Himalayan region using geospatial technology and analytical hierarchy process," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 2225-2266, February.

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