DNP clarifies closure of Ta Chai Island

PHANG NGA, 19 May 2016 (NNT) – The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has explained that its decision to shut down Ta Chai Island in Phang Nga province is to allow for the rehabilitation of natural resources.

Mr Nut Kongkasorn, Chief of Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga, has called a meeting with business operators based in the national park in order to create an understanding of the DNP’s recent resolution to declare the well-known Ta Chai Island off-limit to tourists.

The park chief said the island’s sandy beach that stretches 700 meters, coupled with an abundance of unique marine life, has attracted a large number of visitors, both Thai and foreign. However, its increasing popularity has brought about rapid deterioration of the natural environment, with widespread coral bleaching discovered off the island.

In an attempt to restore its ecological health, the DNP decided to impose an indefinite ban on tourism activities in and around Ta Chai Island, effective from May 16 onwards.


-- NNT 2016-05-19

Now if only they would close down Koh Tao to enable protection of the human species.

They blame the tourists for the deterioration when they only have themselves to blame. The foreign tourist are not the ones who trash the coral with their boat anchors and the boat operators should bring back any trash from their clients to shore not just leave it on the beach. This is a national park with in my opinion a quite expensive fee for foreign tourist to visit, why is part of this money not going into keeping the place clean and regulated? ( we all know the answer to this) Same thing is going on in most other Thai "national parks" today, trash is all over the place and they are seen as cash cows by the local puyai's.

Edited May 18, 201610 yr by HiSoLowSoNoSo

Which part of that was the clarification? We knew this three days ago.

A few divers and tourists don't make the coral bleach. That's akin to dropping a spec of dust into an olympic swimming pool and expecting the temperature to change.

They blame the tourists for the deterioration when they only have themselves to blame. The foreign tourist are not the ones who trash the coral with their boat anchors and the boat operators should bring back any trash from their clients to shore not just leave it on the beach. This is a national park with in my opinion a quite expensive fee for foreign tourist to visit, why is part of this money not going into keeping the place clean and regulated? ( we all know the answer to this) Same thing is going on in most other Thai "national parks" today, trash is all over the place and they are seen as cash cows by the local puyai's.

Quite right. The tourists can't be blamed for the lack of regulation that allows scores of boats to visit Tachai and other islands each day. So many of Thailand's areas of natural beauty are totally ruined because of greed and uncontrolled tours. I visited Tachai three years ago, having been informed of its unspoilt nature but by then it was already being spoilt with sheer numbers of tourists, mostly Thai, and by all accounts the numbers have continued to grow since then.

It's not just Tachai: Maya Bay, Khai Island, Coral Island and others, all accessible from Phuket, are suffering in a similar way and unless they limit tourist boat numbers (some hope!) it wouldn't surprise me to see similar action suggested elsewhere; in fact closure of Maya Bay has already been mooted, though whether environmentalists will win a fight with influential tour operators I very much doubt.

The huge increase is down to the increase in Chinese numbers, for whom a day trip to the islands is part of the package. The Government are making money from National Park admission fees, and money talks more than anything else in this country, so are they really interested in preserving nature?

Short term gain, forget the long term seems to be the Thai ethos, and that is definitely the case here.

Which part of that was the clarification? We knew this three days ago.

Apparently, in Thailand repetition is clarification. The question now becomes will the closure be enforced?

I happily remember a time when all the Islands were technically "off limits" as the Thai Navy patrolled them all. Only Ko Chang and Ko Kong were largely inhabited.............but closing an Island is only half of it - how will they enforce it. In the seventies each Island had a contingent of navy patrol members to keep the unauthorized inhabitants at bay. Those were also the days when Corruption was punishable by death, and executions were public gatherings.

Interesting this.

I have been diving off this Island many times in the last 20 years.

It is only in the last few years that tourists have been allowed on it. I never went on it.

I believe there is a limit to the amount of tourists on the beach, 100 or so, apparently there are tenfold this number daily plus all the vendors etc.

Wonder where all the used fat/oil and rubbish from the food vendors goes, back to the mainland for correct handling, I doubt it. Nice garbage bin the ocean!

If they enforced the laws this would not be necessary, however money is the priority so they don't.

As for coral bleaching, it has nothing to do with this, that is due to the higher seawater temperatures.

As head of the park I would expect him to know this or at least his staff!

Who would have thought that continuously promoting tourism growth would result in destruction of sensitive environments?

Confucius say, "Do not kill goose that lays golden egg".

Excellent. Force tourists to look further afield from Thailand. If they won't stay away voluntarily...

Winnie

Which part of that was the clarification? We knew this three days ago.

Apparently, in Thailand repetition is clarification. The question now becomes will the closure be enforced?

Nah,...rich people will continue to enjoy the island...to be rich and connected is to be above the law here. and been above the law in Thailand is doing things other people could not do without getting into trouble and that's just the fun of it. to feel godlike special !!!...or do you believe the government spokespersons?...

Best regards.

Edited May 19, 201610 yr by off road pat

Who would have thought that continuously promoting tourism growth would result in destruction of sensitive environments?

Confucius say, "Do not kill goose that lays golden egg".

Correction: Confucius

said

Whatever I may say it's not applicable/relevant for Thailand.