Source : Bangkok Post, Thailand, 08 Jan '05
By : Piyaporn Wongruang
  

``Pressure from tourism operators is increasing. The Andaman coast is one of the country's major tourist attractions, and people want us to confirm whether marine resources can be put back into use,'' Marine and Coastal Resources Department director-general Maitree Duangsawasdi told a seminar on marine and coastal resource management at Kasetsart University yesterday.

Last year, Phuket generated more than 70 billion baht from tourism, about 12% of the country's total tourism income, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The National Economic and Social Development Board estimated the country's tourism sector would lose about 30 billion baht from the tsunami disaster.

Mr Maitree said his department had begun a survey on the environmental well-being of more than 40 islands and 20 beaches in the affected provinces, about 80% located within national parks.

Nine survey teams would first study coral reefs in those areas, Mr Maitree said, adding the task would be completed in two weeks.

The findings would be sent to the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department to help it consider which areas could be reopened to tourists.

According to a source, the national park department has been pressured by tourism operators to rehabilitate parks as quickly as possible so tourists can return. The government has also expressed a wish to revive tourism, the source said.

The department has closed eight of 12 national parks in the affected provinces, but is considering reopening them to tourists, the source said.

Marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat, who led a team to the Surin archipelago, said the survey was preliminary, and further examination was needed before it could be judged safe for tourism.

He said the teams would suggest closure of the areas if damage was visible.

So far, the teams have suggested the closure of Phai island and Ton Sai bay in the Phi Phi islands.

``I wish we could close them for years so that the reefs would be able to recover but, unfortunately, there is not only an ecological aspect that we have to think about,'' said Dr Thon.

Meanwhile, the department will also begin an undersea clean-up operation, Mr Maitree said. Materials such as tree roots and house roofs have been found on coral reefs.

The work will start this week at Phi Phi islands, he said.