Sea level rise due to climate change affects beaches, which are a source of high recreational value in the economy. The tourism carrying capacity (TCC) assessment is one of the tools to determine the management capacity of a beach. Pattaya beach represents the character of well-known beaches in Thailand, while Chalatat beach represents the character of beaches that are the focus of domestic tourism. To evaluate beach area this study detected the shoreline position using Google Earth images with tidal correction. The Bruun rule was used for shoreline projection. TCC was calculated by using the beach area, correction factors, and management capacity. The results find that the current effective carrying capacity is approximately 200,000 for Pattaya beach and 49,000 for Chalatat beach. Although the Chalatat beach areas are larger than Pattaya, the effective carrying capacity of Pattaya beach is larger than the effective carrying capacity of Chalatat beach for all situations because TCC is affected by beach areas, correction factors, and management capacity. Because beach areas experience the effects of sea-level rise, protection against future beach loss should be considered for coastal management.

In the 21st century, global sea level rise associated with climate change will affect beach areas, which provide a number of benefits that include benefits to the recreational sector of the economy. In Thailand, the adoption of structural measures in order to slow down beach erosion and handle the impact of sea level rise is commonly implemented. However, structural measures often bring about negative effects on nearby coastal areas. For this reason, suitable adaptation measures should be determined, in order to protect beach areas and to sustain the tourism carrying capacity of the beach. This study analyzed historical shoreline changes using satellite images, and assessed beach value with the hedonic pricing method. We used a benefit–cost ratio analysis to evaluate the economic valuation assessment of Pattaya beach and Chalatat beach. The results showed that the beach values of Pattaya beach and Chalatat beach were 1,072,250 and 92,092 USD, respectively. The benefit–cost ratio analysis proposed that it is worth implementing beach nourishment for the adaptation measure to address all climate change scenarios. In response to climate change, recommendations could be applied to support beach tourism.

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Phuket, the study area of this work with 33 sandy beaches, provides about 15% of the nation’s gross domestic product from the tourism industry. Many factors cause shoreline changes affecting beach areas, such as seasonal erosion and rising sea levels. In this study, shoreline position was the key parameter for evaluating shoreline changes. The CoastSat open-source software was selected to analyze the shoreline changes using a publicly available satellite imagery API. The future shoreline recession was projected using the Bruun rule integrated with field observation data and sea level rise scenarios from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). The result indicated that eight of the study site’s locations were under mild erosion from 2013 to 2021. The average shoreline change varied between −4.10 and 5.47 m/year. The projection of future beach loss due to sea level rise found that 20 beaches and 32 beaches will be lost entirely under SSP1 2.6 and SSP5 8.5, respectively. Beach morphology is influenced by human-induced activities, such as coastal urbanization and the development of structures along the coast. This study discusses the effectiveness of the present coastal protection structure with data from field observations and suggests possible future management strategies.

Thailand’s current beach management strategies lack integration across sectors, resulting in conflicts of interest and insufficient consideration of diverse beach uses. The complexity of environmental, socio-economic, and coastal disasters challenge policymakers to describe the conditions of sandy beaches, and the most effective coastal management adaptation measures. This study suggests an integrated approach to evaluate beach conditions by incorporating the Urbanization Index, Conservation Index, and Recreation Index. Furthermore, the assessment of beach conditions will include the Threat Index, which consists of erosion rates and shoreline recession caused by sea level rise. The trends index will prioritize beach conditions for appropriate management actions. The study suggests management strategies that aim to preserve the physical and environmental aspects of the beach, while restoring its functionality for ecosystem services by applying engineering structures with beach nourishment. The main purpose of this study is to develop a beach condition that can be used as a guideline for sandy beach management in Thailand. It provides insights and recommendations to policymakers for enhancing the sustainability and resilience of Thailand’s coastal areas in the face of urbanization and climate change.