Popular Post webfact Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 The serene waters of Ao La on Koh Racha Yai, situated south of Phuket, were recently embroiled in controversy when tourists from a Chinese tour company, Jinyang Holiday Group, engaged in activities harmful to marine life and environment. They posed for photos with seemingly innocent starfish in hand and ventured onto delicate coral reefs, drawing the ire of local marine officials. Yesterday, the top brass of Jinyang Holiday Group made a formal apology for the unsettling incident. Sirikwan Saengravee, the company’s manager, admitted the actions of the tourists were inexcusable considering the fragile status of marine life within the area. Saroch Ubonsuwan, the director of the Phuket Marine Resources Conservation Center, and Suthep Chualong, head of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, had promptly reported the incident to the Suthep Police. Law enforcement is currently contemplating pressing charges against the culprits. Officials were first alerted to the incident through a post on the Monsoon Garbage Facebook page, sparking an immediate investigation. Sirikwan mentioned that it now became imperative for the company to instruct all their dive instructors not to permit tourists to interact physically with corals and marine wildlife. She referred to past instances where Chinese tourists, enticed by the cute creatures, picked them up for photo sessions to share with friends. “This incident serves as a harsh lesson to us. Jinyang Holiday Group has only been operational for the past two months… Yesterday marked our inaugural trip,” Sirikwan explained. by Mitch Connor Mitch Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/chinese-tour-group-apologised-after-causing-harm-to-thai-marine-life -- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-06-26 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted June 25, 2023 Author Share Posted June 25, 2023 Two Chinese Tourists Officially Charged After Starfish Incident in Phuket By Goongnang Suksawat Phuket – Concern has been rising after photos of divers touching starfish under the sea in Phuket went viral on Thai social media. The issue has been brought to light by the Facebook page ‘Monsoon Garbage Thailand’ earlier this week. They posted photos with a message that concluded, “Illegal tour companies with illegal tour guides are around Racha Island (in the Chalong area) . This particular incident was on Thursday (June 22nd) in the afternoon. We received a video clip from a Good Samaritan. Divers in the video clip appeared to pick up starfish and took photos. Some divers even climbed on coral reefs.” They have called for relevant authorities to investigate the incident which took place over the past several days. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2023/06/25/two-chinese-tourists-officially-charged-after-starfish-incident-in-phuket/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2023-06-26 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ukrules Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 What complete and utter nonsense. 3 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Iron Tongue Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 But how could the tourists take the sea life home to eat if they can't pick them up from the reefs? 1 1 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hotchilli Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 3 hours ago, webfact said: Yesterday, the top brass of Jinyang Holiday Group made a formal apology for the unsettling incident. Sirikwan Saengravee, the company’s manager, admitted the actions of the tourists were inexcusable considering the fragile status of marine life within the area. First dive message of the day... Don't touch anything. 12 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Captain Monday Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 1 hour ago, ukrules said: What complete and utter nonsense. Because one or two starfish josled and violated won't hurt them? The tourists are ignorant an need a stern talking to obviously the have not been briefed properly by the operators who know better. The cumulative effect of hundreds of boat and coral trampling well documented previously. Time for some sanction or fine. Or perhaps this is better handled in a more discreet way with these so-called "Marine officials" ? 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post madmitch Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 I've seen plenty of Thai people doing exactly the same yet I've only ever seen these complaints aimed at foreign tourists. 8 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HappyExpat57 Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 9 minutes ago, hotchilli said: First dive message of the day... Don't touch anything. Take pictures, leave bubbles. 2 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HappyExpat57 Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 <sarcasm> I am SURE the tour boats selected spots to drop anchor that didn't hit any coral. </sarcasm> 2 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipalongcassidy Posted June 25, 2023 Share Posted June 25, 2023 Ignorance... The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed... so an apology should be ok... right!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dcheech Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 3 hours ago, webfact said: She referred to past instances where Chinese tourists, enticed by the cute creatures, picked them up for photo sessions to share with friends. Really?! So the Chinese have been doing this all along, but Thai netizens did not do their faux outrage schtick, & all was kept quiet. Impressive, considering the "outrage and howling" about the recent pipefish petting. Before that, the arrest, jailing, deportation & stealing siezure of property from Farang divers by BiB & Government people on Koh Phangan after similar howling of faux outrage by netizens. You wonder how Attila Ott or Francesco Simonetta feel about the Chinese getting away with an apology, and kid glove treatment? 7 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrmicbkktxl Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 If a farang is doing that he gets the death penalty or blacklisted 3 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post stevenl Posted June 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2023 1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said: <sarcasm> I am SURE the tour boats selected spots to drop anchor that didn't hit any coral. </sarcasm> No anchoring there, only mooring lines 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bangkok Barry Posted June 26, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 26, 2023 5 hours ago, webfact said: They posed for photos with seemingly innocent starfish I demand that they set up a committee to determine if they're innocent or not? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hkt83100 Posted June 26, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 26, 2023 And feeding fish with bread comes with a 100,000 Baht fine... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post koolkarl Posted June 26, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 26, 2023 Recall how marine life flourished during covid when there were no tourists allowed in the country. 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwill Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 They are lucky they didn't see these: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Mist Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 Troll post removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller101 Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 Interesting - the diving tourists got charged for an offence that carries a sentence of up to 2 years jail and/or a 200'000 Baht fine ...... while the dive company and their dive instructors got away with a proverbial wai. Just wondering whether or not the Chinese have been instructed not to Interfere with marine life and the possible consequences of doing that under thai law prior to the dive. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 Hi Ya Mum, look what I got to eat tonight, Cow Pat Starfish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz Erckens Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 Greed, greed, greed, status, status, status... Humans become more and more degenerates. People nowadays have no respect, no self-restraint. It is the self with all those self-loving social-media degens trying to produce content no matter what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malibukid Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 (edited) was hungry and thought that it was part of the buffet Edited June 26, 2023 by malibukid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BritScot Posted June 26, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted June 26, 2023 8 hours ago, stevenl said: No anchoring there, only mooring lines Have you ever dived on a dive site in Thailand? Regardless of mooring lines thai boats especially long tails and speed boats drop anchor as they please and often will go straight over marked divers. Having a propellor churning lethally a couple of inches above your head is an experience never forgotten. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli42 Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 Seems it matters who is doing the touching of marine life … .https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1978671/two-foreigners-arrested-for-taking-selfie-video-with-marine-animals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chongalulu Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 8 hours ago, hkt83100 said: And feeding fish with bread comes with a 100,000 Baht fine... Quite right. Have you seen the state of the bread here?! ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chongalulu Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 7 hours ago, rwill said: They are lucky they didn't see these: Ah,the venemous blue ringed octopus. Still, prefer it to the "chocolate starfish"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chongalulu Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 10 hours ago, hotchilli said: First dive message of the day... Don't touch anything. Unless it's your thong wearing Russian dive buddy! ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sticky Rice Balls Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 the shrimp/ prawns were nervous that day gents! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassosa Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 (edited) I briefly used to work on a private yacht (Below Deck style) whose owner loved to dive, sometimes 3 times a day. What I saw in Indonesia and particularly Thailand was mind blowing. Thai diving boats crowded around a particular diving spot, backing up and dumping dozens of Chinese divers in a white water of spinning props. It was carnage. Somehow I needed to look after my 2-3 guests who threw themselves into this cauldron, possibly loathing it as much as me. Insanity. In other words, this doesn't surprise me at all. Did give me a taster of what Thai greed looks like, especially in combination with Chinese tourisms. Pack 'm in like sardines, steam to the diving spot, chuck them overboard on top of the diving spot and let them destroy whatever is in arm's reach. Next day, rinse repeat. Sad to see that nothing's changed. Edited June 26, 2023 by Bassosa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superlight Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 17 hours ago, webfact said: Two Chinese Tourists Officially Charged After Starfish Incident in Phuket By Goongnang Suksawat Phuket – Concern has been rising after photos of divers touching starfish under the sea in Phuket went viral on Thai social media. The issue has been brought to light by the Facebook page ‘Monsoon Garbage Thailand’ earlier this week. They posted photos with a message that concluded, “Illegal tour companies with illegal tour guides are around Racha Island (in the Chalong area) . This particular incident was on Thursday (June 22nd) in the afternoon. We received a video clip from a Good Samaritan. Divers in the video clip appeared to pick up starfish and took photos. Some divers even climbed on coral reefs.” They have called for relevant authorities to investigate the incident which took place over the past several days. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2023/06/25/two-chinese-tourists-officially-charged-after-starfish-incident-in-phuket/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2023-06-26 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. If you involve in prostitution, expect to get <deleted>. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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