While humans are struggling to survive the Covid-19 outbreak, nature is gradually rehabilitating after being ruined by tourism for years. On social media, there is a video clip showing a large herd of elephants slowly crossing a road, not far from Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in the eastern province of Chachoengsao. For two months running, 133 national parks have been closed and Thai citizens have been observing strict travel restrictions, making it the perfect time for animals to enjoy their lives without any distraction. This is rousing us humans to think about how to manage post-Covid-19 tourism for sustainability. The increasing numbers of marine wildlife — seen in national parks around the country — as well as the aforementioned images are a testament to ecological restoration. Moreover, a group of leatherback sea turtles have also been spotted arriving on Phangnga and Phuket beaches to lay eggs. Meanwhile, in the southern resort towns, dozens of blacktip reef sharks are swimming by the beaches, which were once crowded with thousands of vacationers during the day.

• Maenam Beach, Koh Samui
• Koh Tao
• Sunset Beach, Koh Lipe
• Koh Samui

Preparing for the next stages, set to be implemented in the future, sight seeings at Bang Yai tourists must learn about the new norms since the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is planning to close all 157 national parks for at least two months every year to allow the ecosystem to take a break and rejuvenate. This isn’t new but we have to educate tourists. An expert team is using coral propagation techniques to restore reefs in Maya Bay. Normally, some national parks shut down areas during monsoon season because it’s not safe for tourists to go trekking to waterfalls or dive in the sea. With different weather conditions and landscapes, the national parks won’t close at the same time. From now on, the number of tourists will be limited with social-distancing measures to keep balance in the ecosystem both on land and sea. Dumrus Phoprasit, director of the National Park Office. All national parks are required to submit their plans and the period of closure to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DPN).

National Park At Ko Tao

When the authorities ease up travel restrictions, tourists will be required to register for a visit or book tickets in advance. Located just 10km from Koh Yung, the front of Maya Bay with its popular beach has been permanently closed since 2018. Using reef propagation techniques, almost 30,000 young corals were planted in the bay but merely 15% of them have survived. Besides the development of e-ticketing software, we will promote national parks as a destination for one-day trips. Thon, a member of the national strategy and national reform committees on sustainable growth and the environment and natural resources. Now, we’re improving facilities such as nature trails, bathrooms, tourist centres and accommodation for rangers to reduce the impact on the environment. However, its ecology is gradually recovering and now the national park has created a new nature trail and vantage point so that tourists can admire beautiful views of the pristine beach and the bay from far away.

Dreaming Of National Park At Phayao

Thon said the Similan Islands already cut the number of tourists from almost 6,000 to 3,400 per day after Similan National Park closed Koh Tachai four years ago. It’s hard to track them. Far right One of Krabi’s famous white-sand beaches. In Thailand, there are around 100 whale sharks, gliding from the Surin Islands in Phangnga to Satun, Phuket, resorts near Nakhon Si Thammarat Krabi and Chumphon. To gear up for the high season, national parks may have to rearrange boundary buoys around the sensitive areas to block people and boats from the marine life. Trang is home to a large group of dugongs, while the 100km-long shores from Sirinat National Park (locally known as Nai Yang) in Phuket to Ranong will be reserved for sea turtles to lay eggs between November and February. Everyone came to realise that the absence of tourists led to nature’s recovery. So, the key solution to recovery is that national parks need to control the volume of visitors and tourist boats. For example, Koh Hong and Koh Haa Yai in Krabi are major spots to see blacktip reef sharks. Following the second phase of easing the disease control measures, some leading hotel chains have now restarted their operations by welcoming guests to dine in their restaurants but offering accommodation is still tied to the travel restrictions of each province to contain virus spread.