The chief of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in the southern province of Krabi says the area is experiencing a surge in visitor numbers. It matches the additional surge of high-season arrivals at Krabi and Phuket airports.
Teekawut Sriburin says now that the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic is (hopefully) behind us, foreign tourists are back to explore the turquoise waters, sandy beaches and rich marine life of the Andaman Islands.
A number of Krabi islands have re-opened with limits on visitor numbers in order to protect the fragile ecosystem. Teekawut says it’s vital such limits remain in place, in addition to a number of other protective measures. It would seem lessons are being learnt from the days when thousands of visitors descended on Koh Phi Phi’s Maya Bay every day, leading to widespread destruction of coral and other marine life in the bay.
In addition to Koh Phi Phi, other Krabi islands, including Koh Kai, Koh Mo and Koh Thap, are proving popular with tourists. The islands’ vibrant coral and tropical fish make them the ideal destinations for diving or snorkelling.
According to the Krabi Tourism Business Association, around 1.5 million tourists will have visited Krabi by the end of the year, equating to around 15 billion baht in tourism revenue.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
