Tourism Facial Recognition to Debut at Maya Bay for Tourist Management

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

A new facial recognition system will debut at Maya Bay to streamline visitor flow and boost conservation, announced national park officials. Launching on October 15th, the system will integrate with the e-ticket platform, verifying tourists in realtime against pre-booked data.

 

Saengsuree Songthong, chief of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park, stated the tech will differentiate between Thai and foreign visitors, along with adults and children, to reduce entry delays during peak season. Typically, visitor numbers can soar to 4,000 per day during high season.

 

The initiative, a pilot across 11 locations in six marine parks, aims to enhance tourism management and environmental protection. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will ensure transparent fee collection, allowing rangers to focus on visitor safety and preserving nature.

 

Even with reduced footfall during the monsoon season, the park limits access to a maximum of 375 visitors per hour, reported Bangkok Post.

 

In the first half of the 2025 fiscal year, the e-ticket system generated over 391 million baht. Tourists are advised to book in advance and get acquainted with the new process to support sustainable tourism. Entry fees are 40 baht for Thai adults and 20 baht for children, while foreigners pay 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children.

 

Maya Bay will close from 1st August to 30th September for natural restoration during the rough monsoon season. Since its spotlight in the film "The Beach" 25 years ago, Maya Bay has undergone significant conservation to repair and protect its natural beauty.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok News 2025-07-19

 

 

[Pesche]

"A new facial recognition system will debut at Maya Bay to streamline visitor flow and boost conservation"

 

HOW does it boost conservation? 

I don't get it?!!?

Ah OK, maybe less paper, less tickets!

But facial recognition? To enter a national park?!

Are you nuts?!

[frank83628]

Glad to have gone there in jan 2000 before the mass tourism or now. Just a couple of dive boats and a few longtials. 

[Zapitapi]

thats how it starts..and the explanation for it..laughable

[quake]

Maybe an ok place to visit 25-30 years ago.

But now, No way. 

Sounds about as much fun as a London tube train in rush hour. 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, Pesche said:

"A new facial recognition system will debut at Maya Bay to streamline visitor flow and boost conservation"

 

HOW does it boost conservation? 

I don't get it?!!?

Ah OK, maybe less paper, less tickets!

But facial recognition? To enter a national park?!

Are you nuts?!

Can you imagine the waiting time in the queue to enter... 

[Lalo27]

Big Brother...

[Xonax]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

A new facial recognition system will debut at Maya Bay to streamline visitor flow and boost conservation, announced national park officials. Launching on October 15th, the system will integrate with the e-ticket platform, verifying tourists in realtime against pre-booked data.

And suddenly out of nowhere, the number of counted visiting tourists will increase by 100%. The tour operators used to run a scam with the entrance fees and probably still does.