Modeling the linkage between tourism and multiple dimensions of poverty in Thailand

This study aimed at modeling the quantitative linkage between tourism and the whole boundaries of poverty, economic, social, and environmental perspectives, at the provincial level in Thailand. There were both positive and negative effects from tourism to dimensions of poverty. Tourism helped decreasing absolute poverty via tourism income. It also tended to raise nutrition and healthcare indicators. More people accessed to cleaner, safer, and better quality of food and drinking water. People were also more capable in accessing to better healthcare services and in taking care of household sanitations. The environmental indicator was also improved by the environmental concern of crafts and arts production villages which aimed to sell their products to tourists. However, there was a trading-off effect. It weakened locally social and political strength when tourism income distribution was uneven between members of the community. It was proven that poverty eradication (absolute poverty) in the poorest province of Thailand was almost impossible by relying on only tourism income.