IMPLEMENTING THE BLUE ECONOMY CONCEPT IN THAILAND FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

This academic article aims to examine the alignment between the Blue Economy concept and sustainable marine resource management approaches. The study employs a methodology based on the collection and analysis of data relevant to the Blue Economy concept. The findings indicate that oceans and coasts serve as the primary engines driving Thailand's economy according to a World Bank report, the Blue Economy accounts for nearly 30 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, conventional resource exploitation has inflicted severe degradation on marine ecosystems across the fisheries, tourism, maritime transport, and oil and energy sectors. As the utilization of marine resources intensifies, environmental degradation escalates accordingly. Consequently, the transition toward a Blue Economy-which emphasizes maximizing resource utility while preserving ecological sustainability and promoting social equity-serves as a crucial instrument aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023 - 2027), and the ASEAN Blue Economy Implementation Plan. Given Thailand's high potential to become a regional maritime hub, this article proposes policy recommendations to address the aforementioned challenges across three core dimensions: 1) accelerating the implementation of marine spatial planning; 2) promoting innovation, clean technology, and blue financial innovations; and 3) enhancing multilateral cooperation within the ASEAN region. Ultimately, the long-term success of driving Thailand's Blue Economy depends on integrated management mechanisms involving all sectors, in order to safeguard and pass on an abundant and balanced resource base to future generations.