The island of Koh Tachai is popular with both foreign and Thai tourists but local authorities said it will close for an indefinite period on October 15.
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The decision has been taken in view of negative impact on natural resources due to heavy footfall at the island that is too attractive for its own good. And all of Thailand’s marine national parks close on Monday and remain closed through October 15 for monsoon season – so technically, the park is already closed.
The island’s shoreline, beaches and coral reef will be deemed off-limits to all visitors, starting October 15, reported the Bangkok Post.
A sign reads “Tachai Island” and “Mu Ko Similan National Park” in English and Thai on Koh Tachai.
He also said, The measure is part of the master plan for marine resource management in the Andaman Sea.
Situated about 137 kilometers (85 miles) northwest of the tourist hub of Phuket, Koh Tachai has no hotels, and the majority of visitors stay only for the day, eating lunch on the island.
Asst Prof Thon Thamrongnawasawat, deputy dean of the Faculty of Fisheries of Kasetsart University, explained that some beaches created to hold 70 people were holding 1,000 at a time, and something has to be done now to protect the area.
“In fact, Koh Tachai is preserved as a primitive zone, not a tourist site”.
The problems included litter and food waste, gasoline from tour boats leaching into the water and damage to coral, he said, adding that overwhelming numbers of tourists were to blame. This caused the island to quickly deteriorate.
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Koh Tachai, said Thanya, will remain closed afterwards as a result of massive destruction caused by visitors.
