The environmental management approach for small hotel in Koh Chang (Chang Island), Trat province

Abstract

The objectives of the study are to identify the potential, the needs, and the limitations in the environmental management faced by the small hotels in Koh Chang, to study factors affecting the implementation of the environmental management under the present situation and to suggest the approach for the environmental management of small hotels in Koh Chang. This was a qualitative research which included one month of area observation and interviews with 36 related stakeholders. There were 29 informants of direct parties of 10 small hotel personnel, 9 residents and 10 community officers. There were also 7 informants of indirect parties of 4 monks, one officer of Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, one Policeman and one hospital staff. For data analysis process, the interview and area observation data were analyzed, summarized and presented via content analysis with methodological triangulation, data triangulation and theoretical triangulation. The researcher also conducted data analysis with: 1) SWOT Analysis 2) Used external variable analysis and strategic management concepts (8M) to analyze internal variables and 3) Used the external situation analysis concepts in many dimensions, known as PESTEL for data analysis.

The research was based on the content of Community Based Tourism (CBT) and applies environmental management related standard such as ISO to be the guideline for the research approach for the environmental management of small hotels with criteria and evaluation indicators. The researcher applied the concept of Balanced Scorecard (BSC), with 4 dimensions: Effectiveness, Stakeholders, Internal Business Process and Learning and Growth, as a tool for the organizational management with the objective of evaluating the organizations by considering dimensions used for conventional assessment method. The research data found the potential that was the situation of the sustainable environmental management facing problems and limitations both at the community and the household levels, which are inter-related matters. The area of needs of the small hotels concerned the increasing knowledge and more capacity on environmental management and the limitations was the discussion on weakness and threats also investigates the problems and obstacles in solving present difficulties in the paradigm of sustainable environmental management for small hotels in Koh Chang.The researcher discussed on the household and community level, and at the whole area level as the factors affecting the environmental management for small hotels in Koh Chang

An approach for the environmental management of small hotels in Koh Chang has applied BSC technique begins with: 1) The Effectiveness dimension for goal setting to solve the waste collection and waste disposal problems, to solve wastewater treatment problems and to store fresh water for the area consumption. 2) The Stakeholders dimension which places more emphasis on knowledge building, development of awareness, and stakeholder’s participation involving both direct and indirect stakeholders in problem solving activities via knowledge sharing activities and other environmental related activities. 3) The Internal Process is the stage at which the ISO method be implemented of planning, doing, checking and acting: PDCA. The community is the key participant in the implementation of all steps in the process of ISO mentioned above. This must have strong support from the public sectors in the area. 4) The Learning and Growth dimension which is emphasized the awareness of the importance of the environment and environmental techniques that can be developed within the community. This includes techniques and knowledge from government organizations, such as the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and other related organizations.

Strategies for environmental management of small hotels in Koh Chang has been applied CBT concept driven: 1) Active community management such as participation in planning and acting according to community needs. 2) Sharing mutual benefit for community. 3) Collaboration in solving community problems and focus on awareness and 4) Innovation and wisdom in environmental management as well as training on techniques and best practices.