Readiness and Potential for the Development of Koh Samui Municipality Administration to Support the Elevation to a Special Local Administrative Organization: Proposals for the Establishment of Koh Samui Municipality

Abstract

The research project titled “Readiness and Capacity Development of Koh Samui Municipality Administration to Support Its Upgrade to a Special Local Administrative Organization: A Proposal for the Establishment of Koh Samui City” aims to review the administrative context and scope of Koh Samui Municipality and to assess its readiness and capacity for being upgraded to a special form of local administration. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including quantitative data from 400 randomly selected respondents and qualitative data from 9 purposively selected key informants with relevant roles in the research context. The findings reveal that Koh Samui Municipality still relies on government subsidies for certain operations and lacks full authority for local governance, limiting its ability to fully demonstrate its potential. The proposed strategies for upgrading the municipality include: (1) enhancing operational strategies to address infrastructure and environmental issues in the area, and (2) urging the central government to reassess the municipality’s capacity, along with mobilizing support through civic engagement and social movements both within and outside the community. These efforts aim to influence policy decisions and ultimately pave the way for the sustainable establishment of “Koh Samui City” as a special local administrative entity in the future.