Phi Phi Islands
The Thai government plans to close the country's national parks for several months each year to reduce environmental damage from mass tourism, said Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources.
The closure of the parks during the coronavirus pandemic showed that the natural habitat can recover from the tourist crowds and animals, such as whales and turtles, are quickly returning to Thailand's world-famous beaches, Varawut said.
The authorities want to close the parks for two to four months a year from next year to give nature a chance to recover.
Thailand has over 100 national parks, covering the mountainous regions in the north to tropical islands in the south, with popular attractions such as the Phi Phi Islands and Phangnga Bay.
According to data from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, more than 20 million people visited national parks in 2019, generating 2,2 billion baht in entrance fees.
Source: Bangkok Post
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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Then I can hope that the tour operators also mention this in their travel programs, because it is almost clear that they will be closed in the same period as so much recovery has now occurred. Pity!
Thailand may still need people who want to participate in nature restoration. Then I may have to postpone my plans to volunteer for Australia's koala conservation program.
Gr. a volunteer lifeguard
That would be an excellent plan if implemented. When you see the mess tourists leave behind… it's unbelievable. I always think… they take that stuff with them anyway, why can't they take their rubbish back and throw it away there. But no, in the most beautiful areas you come across plastic bottles and other waste.
For the most part, it is the Thai themselves who do it. However, that is also a matter of education. Closing alone does not help enough in my humble opinion, but also at the time of opening, greater attention must be paid to catch environmental polluters.
This is already the case for many nature reserves.
For example, the Kaeng Krachan reserve closes annually during the rainy season.
Rangers then perform necessary work and life gets a chance to get going again.
This year COVID came as a godsend to the parks.
They are on time with that. Now that there are no more foreign tourists. Then that crap would come from somewhere else. John Jansen