Smart City Implementation in a Tourist Island: Assessing Success Determinants in Koh Samui , Thailand

Ubonwan Bunkaew; Dhiyathad Prateeppornnarong

Authors

Ubonwan Bunkaew Graduate School of Public Administration, National Institute of Development Administration.
Dhiyathad Prateeppornnarong Graduate School of Public Administration, National Institute of Development Administration.

Keywords:

Policy Implementation, Smart City, Koh Samui Municipality

Abstract

This study examines policy tools in Koh Samui Municipality and the drivers of smart city development, aiming to assess policy implementation effectiveness and analyze relationships between key factors and outcomes. A quantitative approach was employed, involving a census of 218 personnel responsible for implementing the smart city plan. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that both influencing factors and implementation success were at a moderate level. Government support and local government capacity were particularly important, while citizens appeared to receive more tangible benefits than the achievement of policy goals. Regression analysis showed that all four independent variables significantly influenced implementation success at the 0.05 level. Local government capacity had the strongest effect, followed by government support and cross-sector collaboration. In contrast, policy goals and objectives showed a significant negative relationship with implementation success, indicating misalignment between policy design and local capacity.

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