The December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was followed by a "second tsunami" of international development aid that has subsequently become part of the economic and social fabric of southern Thailand. This research examines the contribution of small-scale international aid efforts toward long-term recovery through the engagement with the tourism sector in the Phang Nga province of Thailand. Two case studies provide insight into how international aid organizations envision economic recovery, how they engage with and impact the local community, and finally how they challenge current models for recovery.