Sustainable tourism in “Chiang Khong - one city two patterns” development model, Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

Tourism is widely regarded as an effective means of development by numerous governmental bodies worldwide, especially in leveraging domestic economies. Correspondingly, Chiang Khong District of Chiang Rai Province has adopted tourism promotion strategies as part of economic development. Nevertheless, often, development brings about partial benefits to local populations, or at worst, not at all. Prior to the arrival of the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge and the proclamation of the Chiang Rai Special Economic Zone, the local civil society partnered with the public and private sectors in Chiang Khong to address current issues and prepare for upcoming changes. Since 2012, the “One City Two Patterns” development model has been acknowledged as the city’s developmental kernel. This research investigates, firstly, how Chiang Khong has been spatially produced in the process of globalization and regionalization, secondly, how the local government agencies and civil society have conceived and implemented the “One City Two Patterns” development model in Chiang Khong, and lastly how sustainable tourism development is integrated with the development model. The concept of spatio-temporal fixes was employed to explain Chiang Khong’s spatial production, while theoretical lenses of structuration and sustainable tourism development were drawn upon to analyze the local conception of and implementation of the development model and the integration of sustainable tourism development in “One City Two Patterns”, respectively. The research employed in-depth and semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and secondary data as methods of data collection.

It was found that the process of globalization and regionalization, catalyzed by capitalist accumulation, has already extended into Chiang Khong. Conceived and positioned by the Thai government as an economic gateway, this border town is designated to spatially and temporally fix capital surplus from other regions in the country. Therefore, numerous infrastructure development projects were implemented in order to support the nation’s economic growth. Even though it has long been recognized as a city for trade and commerce by the locals themselves, this nascent spatial transformation renders livelihood changes in exchange for economic prosperity, which has been considered first and foremost. The second finding involves the creation of the “One City Two Patterns” development model. It results from the interplay between the local government and civil society, resulting in the demarcation of Chiang Khong into the New Town and the Old Town. Nonetheless, the local government still exercises a great deal of power over the local civil society as seen by policy imposition on the district area, e.g., the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. Moreover, it was found that most of the interviewers collectively perceived Chiang Khong as a commercial district, while tourism in the district is a byproduct of other economic activities. Despite a number of tourist landmarks being built throughout the Old Town, infrastructure development in the New Town causes tourism in Chiang Khong to decrease dramatically, leading to mixed perceptions towards the “One City Two Patterns” development model. Finally, taking into account four key principles of sustainable tourism development, it was discovered that Chiang Khong represents a great deal of participatory decision-making through the development model. An attempt to preserve socio-cultural heritage is successful and unsuccessful at the same time, such as the near disappearance of local fishery and boat operators for tourism purposes, while ethnic culture such as Thai Lue is well preserved. Environmental conservation practice has proved exceptional as seen from Boon Rueang Wetland Conservation Group. In terms of long-term economic plans, Chiang Rai province has a master plan for each district under its supervision to promote tourism and the economy. At the present time, however, promotional tourism events in Chiang Khong have only achieved temporary success. Tourism development in Chiang Khong at the current stage, therefore, cannot be sustained, rendering it still a passageway for trade and travel.