Making good on signals something would be done to rein in sheer numbers of visitors to Thailand’s protected marine areas, environmental officials have moved to cap the number of visitors to marine national parks next year.
Discussions are underway with the tourism industry on how to manage the overabundance of tourists and balance the need to protect threatened marine life in Thailand, according to Nipol Chotiban; chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
No indication was given as to what the cap would be or how it would be determined.
Yet enforcing such a limit would prove difficult, an anonymous source at the department told Bangkok Post, since park chiefs are said to see personal gain from bringing in high yields of visitors.
Thailand’s marine parks have been under serious threat by impact from visitors, but it wasn’t until earlier this month photos showing standing-room only hordes of visitors at Maya Beach prompted action.
Photo: Niruth Darid Bannob
Related:
Minister warns tourism destroying Thailand’s marine environment
