Analysis: Impact of Tsunami on Tourism Destinations in Thailand

This report examines the significant impact of tsunamis on Thailand's tourism sector, focusing on the devastating events of 2004 and 2017. It highlights the destruction caused to infrastructure, the loss of life, and the subsequent decline in tourism, particularly in areas like the Andaman Coast. The report details the economic consequences, including the closure of hotels and businesses, leading to unemployment and a substantial decrease in tourism revenue. It references various studies to support its findings, emphasizing the vulnerability of tourism destinations to natural disasters and the long-term challenges in recovery. The conclusion underscores the critical link between tourism and economic development, emphasizing the need for disaster preparedness and sustainable tourism practices. The report also provides a overview of the 2004 and 2017 tsunami events and its effects on the tourism industry in Thailand and the need to overcome from such issues.

TSUNAMI IN
THAILAND

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCE...................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
Natural calamities like earthquake, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, floods and more, create an
adverse impact on properties, human beings and other (Isaranuwatchai & et. al., 2016). In this
regard, a report is going to prepare to ascertain how natural disasters like Tsunami affect tourism
sites. For this purpose, Thailand is chosen as a country to analyze this impact.
Tsunami in Thailand
Tsunami is also known as tidal or seismic sea waves in water bodies, which are triggered
by explosion, earthquakes or other natural disasters. It causes extreme destructions as per depend
on intensity and speed of waves (Okazumi & Nakasu, 2015). When such waves knock down the
infrastructure on shore or sea areas, then it might continue to travel for long miles inland. It
sweeps away many trees, buildings, animals, human beings and other things of earth. In context
with Thailand, in 2004 and 2017, this nation has hit by tsunami in unrecognizable manner. It has
hit South-western coast including Andaman Sea. There was extreme damage in terms of life and
property.
Impact of Tsunami on tourism destinations
Tourism is considered as most important source of increasing economy as a country.
Therefore, every nation seeks to enhance tourism so that financial condition can be improved.
The time when tourism in a country like Thailand increases in high manner, then sudden
occurrence of Tsunami waves has struck its most popular tourist areas. It includes Andaman
Coast areas, where due to high intensity of sea waves more than 5,000 people were died in
Thailand, among whom, near about half were tourists (Calgaro, Dominey-Howes & Lloyd,
2014). Therefore, it has impacted negatively on image of country which decreases tourism as
well. Moreover, floods and Tsunami has damaged building and other properties as well as led to
closure approximate 400 hotels, restaurants and malls etc. in cities of Thailand. So, it has left
over 5,000 residents of Thailand unemployed. As per statistical view, it has estimated that in this
nation, due to natural disasters, near about 60 to 70 percent, tourism has decreased adversely.
Some tourism sites like South-western part of Andaman Coast, Krabi and Phang Nga etc. are still
facing threat of Tsunami waves (Tsunami Tourism, 2014). This would leads to create a huge
decrease in arrivals of foreign and domestic tourists. In addition to this, many national and
international airlines also have closed their operations in Phuket and other tourism sites. Thus,
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reduction in tourism has majorly affected economical condition which reduces to around 260
million per month.
In this regard, occurrence of earthquake in coastal and sea areas, affect not only
infrastructure and lives of people but also reduce tourism as well. It destructs building, cars and
other man made equipments in large manner, therefore, to overcome from such issues,
government make large investment. They run various operations and activities to recover from
destruction caused by Tsunami. But it takes long time and investment as well.
CONCLUSION
From this report, it has concluded that in a nation, tourism is the main part of economy
development. But it majorly impacts by natural disasters like Tsunami waves. As it creates a
large destruction in lives, building and infrastructure of a country.
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REFERENCE
Books and Journals
Calgaro, E., Dominey-Howes, D., & Lloyd, K. (2014). Application of the Destination
Sustainability Framework to explore the drivers of vulnerability and resilience in
Thailand following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Journal of Sustainable Tourism,
22(3), 361-383.
Isaranuwatchai, W., & et. al., (2016). Patterns of health service utilization following the Tsunami
in Thailand. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 20, 14-18.
Okazumi, T., & Nakasu, T. (2015). Lessons learned from two unprecedented disasters in 2011–
Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan and Chao Phraya River flood in
Thailand. International journal of disaster risk reduction, 13, 200-206.
Online
Tsunami Tourism. 2014. [Online] Available Through: < http://www.thaiwebsites.com/tourism-
tsunami.asp>.
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