The biggest earners were two southern marine parks. The top earner was Hat Nopparat Tara-Mu Koh Phi Phi with THB428 billion while the Similan Islands National Marine Park was second with nearly THB300 million.
The department has previously stated it will plough the windfall in takings back into preserving the parks’ natural attractions for posterity and improving amenities for visitors. Spokesperson Sompot Maneerat claimed improvements already made is the underlying reason behind the spike in income from admission charges.
12GO ASIA notes both marine parks are on the western Andaman Sea side of the Thai peninsula. Hat Nopparat is close to Krabi and the Similan Islands are around 60kms off the coast of Phang Nga Province. Both parks are fairly easy daytrips for visitors staying in Phuket, Krabi or Phang Nga.
Southern Thailand national marine parks generate record profits
News in Asia
Figures released by Thailand’s National Parks Department show a surge in income from entry fees at parks under its jurisdiction. Between October last year and the end of May, the parks collected a total of almost THB1.68 billion from visitors.