A source at the department said officials will invite tourism operators for talks on how to curb tourist numbers at well-known marine tourism sites in the Andaman sea. Thousands of tourists love Maya Beach, but Maya Beach does not love hordes of tourists. He said state agencies were running campaigns to drum up tourist numbers without regard for how many visitors can be accommodated. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will meet tourism operators in Andaman Sea provinces to discuss ways to control tourist numbers amid concerns an influx of visitors is destroying the environment at marine tourism spots. From October last year to May, 1.168 million tourists have visited the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi Marine National Park, 900,466, or 77%, of whom were foreigners, bringing in income of 361.91 million baht, according to the department.

Source: Bangkok Post July 18, 2016 21:33 UTC