The Dynamics of the Pluralist Society and Diverse Cultures of the People in Koh Lanta, Krabi Province (1979- 2010)

Abstract

The objective of this article is to study the developmental history of Koh Lanta, both economically and socially. This article will focus on the dynamics of the pluralist society and diverse cultures of the people in Koh Lanta, Krabi Province during the period of the official development of the tourism industry, beginning in 1979. This qualitative research has been conducted using the historical research method.

This study discovered that Koh Lanta is home to numerous ethnic groups, such as Sea Gypsies (Urak Lawoi and Morgan in particular), Thai-Muslim and Thai-Chinese. Each group has unique religious and cultural identities. Most of the indigenous population is fishermen and farmers. Considerable economic changes in Koh Lanta were initiated in the age of tourism development following the Thai government’s promotion of the national tourism industry in 1979.

By the time the island was registered as Koh Lanta National Park in 1990, Koh Lanta was well-known for its richness in natural resources and the uniqueness of its multiculturalism. As expected, the island became one of the centers of marine tourism in the area of the Andaman coastal areas of Thailand. Tourism has changed Koh Lanta considerably. Once an isolated self-sufficient community, it is now an open community. The substantial number of tourists and immigrants over this time has had a tremendous impact on the community in Koh Lanta.

One important example of change in the island’s economy is that the economy went from being agrarian and marine based, to one based on tourism and services. The increasing rate of investment fuelled the tourist industry’s expansion and also affected the community’s culture. Despite living in a multicultural society amid the rapid expansion of tourism, the people in Koh Lanta presently have been able to sustain their unique ethnic, religious, and cultural identity. They are still capable of living together in peace and harmony.