Abstract
This research reports the results of research using an urban environmental assessment (UEA) and a social impact assessment (SIA) of tourism policies in Thailand's Ayutthaya Historical Park. The data were collected from a sample of 193 households from a total of 529 households dwelling inside a 1-km radius of the ancient city. While creating revenues for the State, the top-down approach is failing to contribute to the economic well-being of local residents. One reason is the lack of local festive activities and the prohibition of locals from active commercial participation. These deficiencies arise from a lack of leadership and cohesion in the community. To tackle these issues, policy recommendations are made at the individual, community, provincial and national levels.