The authorities have come to monitor Loh Samah Bay, Phi Phi Ley Island, which is the pier through which tourists enter Maya Bay, after being officially reopened to tourists since January 1, 2022, after 3 years of recovery.
Mr. Jatuporn Burusphat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was assigned by Mr. Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) to visit the area to monitor the orderliness of tourist services at the bay, which is a popular natural attraction among Thai tourists and foreigners, especially during the high season of the Andaman Sea. It is found that the place and its amenities are ready to accommodate tourists.
After being closed for more than 3 years, thanks to the tour operators, and tourists who have cooperated very well to bring the ship to dock and to wait at the designated point, the nature of the bay has been refreshed. According to the measures to limit the number of tourists, according to the capacity to support the area that can accommodate no more than 4,125 tourists per day, the number must be divided into 11 rounds per day, from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with 1 hour per round. Each round has a maximum of 375 tourists, and they can enjoy the water within 50 meters from the coast.
Therefore, the concept of sustainable tourism in the national parks can help promote tourism of the country and help stimulate the country’s economy during this COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism business operators as well as tourists, both Thai and foreigners, have cooperated in compliance with various measures that each national park must impose the screening of tourists at the national park office by showing the vaccination result or an ATK test result before entering the area. All national parks across the country have been certified according to SHA and SHA+ standards, including pre-registration to visit natural attractions through the QueQ Application (QueQ) to help maintain the beauty of natural attractions in a sustainable way.
According to the policy of opening the country by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, importance has been given to the promotion of tourism in Krabi to help stimulate the economy for the people in the area and nearby provinces. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports now anticipates a 1.3-1.8 trillion baht tourism revenue this year, from around 5-15 million foreign visitors. This projection is based on the condition that there will be no lockdowns.
