THE Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT) is pioneering policies and
legislation relating to the growing
global problem of overtourism.
Its objective of reducing touristrelated waste by 50% by 2020 is well
on track, with the association working
closely with tourism suppliers and other
government agencies, including the
Department of National Parks (DNP), to
ensure waste reduction and discourage
the use of single-use plastics.
Director of the TAT office in London,
Chiravadee Khunsub, said it had
introduced a number of initiatives to
encourage local tourism suppliers to
focus on waste reduction and other
sustainable and environmentally
friendly practices. This includes annual
awards that recognise these practices
among tourism suppliers.
DNP said on its website recently that
the ban on single-use plastics would
help reduce plastic waste by around
three million items.
Another encouraging move, according
to Chiravadee, has been the banning of
smoking on 24 of Thailand’s beaches.
Designated smoking areas have been
provided, but those who flout the laws
face hefty fines and even jail time.
Low-impact tourism is another
way Thailand is ensuring that one
of its biggest GDP earners remains
sustainable. The popular Maya Bay
has been closed until 2021 to give
the ecology time to recover from
approximately 5 000 people visiting the
beach daily before it closed. Since the
closure last year, the fragile coral reefs
are re-forming and sharks were recently
seen returning to the bay.
