BANGKOK, 16 March 2018 (NNT) – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has decided to tighten up controls of tourism-related activities on Samui, Tao and Pa-ngan islands off Surat Thani in effort to conserve and rehabilitate the natural resources and environment of the three popular tourist destinations and the sea.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on between the MNRE and all relevant units which include representatives of tourism-related business operators such as the tourism promotion associations, fishermen associations and local administrative organizations.

The MoU signing at Samui island municipality was witnessed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surasak Karnchanarat and Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Khowsurat among others.

Under the MoU, operators of tourism-related businesses and fishermen are required to obey the restrictions to ensure that their activities must not threaten the environment and natural resources of the three popular islands.

Among the new restrictions to be imposed include no feeding of fish in the sea and ban on the sale of food for the purpose of fish feeding in the sea.

Besides, authorities would tighten up enforcement of existing measures to protect marine ecology and coral reefs from boat anchoring, construction project, and discarding of garbage or leftover food from tourists boats.

The problems in the three islands are huge as they have been left unattended to for a long time. The problems of waste management and poor town planning are ruining beautiful nature of the three islands. Garbage has been identified as a major problem for the three islands.

Surat Thani provincial governor Witchavuth Chinto said about 42,000 tons of garbage have accumulated on Tao island and about 250,000 tons of garbage on Samui island daily.

He disclosed that about two million tourists visited those islands yearly and the number is increasing each year.


National News Bureau Of Thailand | Tighter controls over tourism-related activities on Samui, Tao, Pa-ngan islands