Tourism policy implementation and society

Tourism policy implementation is examined in this paper using a society-centred, relational approach. It considers policy within its societal context, including the economy, governance, politics and culture, and it focuses on exploring the reciprocal interactions affecting tourism policy implementation in Phuket, Thailand. Difficulties in the application of three tourism-related policies are assessed for this island. It is shown how their implementation involved relations and bargaining power between actors pursuing their interests. There were tensions around the state’s various structural roles, the impacts of policies on business performance, local compared with national priorities, local government legitimacy and support, hierarchical policy processes, and patron-client relations. Wider implications for future research on policy implementation are identified in the final discussion.