Small business owner's perception of sustainable tourism: Challenges and implications for the tourism industry

Abstract

A major goal of sustainability is to strike a balance between socio-economic interests and the planet's finite ecological systems. This trend is also affecting the area of tourism with its environmental, social, and economic impacts. To change the relationship between tourism stakeholders and elements that impact sustainable tourism development, it is critical to understand their perspectives. The explorative interview study aims to contribute by critically exploring how small tourism businesses perceive sustainable tourism development in Phuket, Thailand. A series of 18 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the phenomena empirically. The findings revealed that insufficient governance and lack of education are the largest obstacles. Furthermore, small tourism businesses perceive environmental sustainability as a synonym for sustainable tourism development. The study concludes by providing theoretical and practical implications.