He continued by saying that increasing numbers of tourists either bought coral or plucked it off the reefs themselves when they were out on tourist boats. Tourist and fishing boats plus climate change are also a danger to living coral in this region of the Andaman Sea.
Tint Thwin is the director of the Myanmar Tourism Ministry and he told reporters that his officers planned to act on conserving Myeik and the Mergui Islands’ marine environment. He noted that the ministry had little experience in this field and would need to bring in specialists to decide the best way forward.
Local authorities only opened up the Mergui islands to tourists last year. Although there is no accommodation on the islands, sightseeing cruises are popular with Thai travellers who typically cross the border at Singkhon Pass and then travel overland to Myeik.
Singkhon does not allow non-Thais to pass yet, but as it is close to Hua Hin and Prachuap Khiri Khan many come for a look anyway. People travelling to these two resorts from either the north or south of Thailand will find 12GO ASIA’s ticketing options are convenient.
Myanmar resort town says action needed to preserve coral reefs
News in Asia
A senior tourism official in the Myanmar seaside town of Myeik says action is urgently needed to conserve coral reefs. Tourist bureau officer Moe Kyaw Thu says reefs on the Mergui Islands archipelago are vulnerable to mass tourism and also to tourists who break bits off to take home as souvenirs.