This dissertation builds on academic debates in political ecology about the relative value of public and private actors to address serious social and environmental impacts of mass tourism. The data presented is based on 6 weeks of ethnography working in one hotel on Koh Samui and on 20 interviews with English speaking hotel managers/business owners between July and September 2018. Specifically, the research demonstrates that the private sector is the key driver of sustainable development, however, the government is responsible for the legal and policy frameworks within which businesses can operate. This research argues that a recent shift in the balance of power from state to private enterprise has resulted in more public scrutiny of business practices, with firms growing more sensitive about their public image. Moreover, despite the abundance of state-led policies, ambiguities around who is responsible mean the effects are inadequate. To conclude, issues of bad governance, as well as the private sectors self-interest have left the tourism industry to grow beyond its means. Nevertheless, there is evidence that the local community is increasingly aware of the importance of sustainable growth opening opportunities for sustainable management. This dissertation contests mainstream assumptions in political ecology that critique capitalism, through suggesting that capitalism and private enterprise are the way forward in contemporary development.
