- Project Leader : Ishii Kayoko(Toyoeiwa University, Faculty of Political Science)
- Collaborators : Kannapa Pongponrat(Thammasart University, College of Innovation)
- : Hayami Yoko(Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies)
Outline of Research
A research group made up of two Japanese and one Thai will examine the extent to which tourism promotion after the 2004 and 2011 Tsunami disasters in Thailand and Japan, respectively, contributed to supporting a disadvantaged population (including foreign workers and ethnic minority workers) in each local area, and if it was useful, examine the conditions for such an achievement. Cases in Japan will be examined through fieldwork, and the results will be compared with existing research outcomes in cases in Thailand.
In 2013, we will (1) review former research on the topic in relation to cases in Japan, (2) review former research on the topic dealing with cases in Thailand, and (3) conduct pre-research in Japan. In the following year, we will (1) organize field research in Japan, (2) finalize research outcomes as a paper and apply to an academic journal, and (3) provide and present research outcomes in Japan.
Description
The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of tourism promotion after the 2004 and 2011 Tsunami disasters in Thailand and Japan, respectively, on migrant workers and ethnic minorities who make a living in tourist areas in these countries.
The study will be pursued collaboratively in order to bring about more objective and applicable analytical results by comparing two countries with different cultures and backgrounds on the topic of “the effectiveness of tourism promotion in supporting disadvantaged population in the local area.” Prior studies have been conducted on the relationship between tourism promotion and supporting disadvantaged population in local areas, but few have carried out a comparison of two countries.
The proposed study is expected to contribute in the following manner to the body of existing knowledge: (1) provide a comparative analysis of the cases of Kesennuma-shi, Miyagi Prefecture, and Phuket in regards the extent in which tourism promotion after the Tsunami disasters has helped out “the weak” (including foreign workers and ethnic minority workers); (2) present results of the analysis of the conditions under which tourism promotion can help out “the weak”; (3) add to the literature on the research question “can tourism promotion be beneficial to “the weak” in local areas?” by providing a case study from a new analytical dimension.
 Phuket 5 years after the Tsunami Disaster |
 Phuket 5 years after the Tsunami Disaster |