Thailand's National Parks

Thousands of tourists chose 10 of the national parks across country as their destination to celebrate the New Year holidays, the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department said yesterday.

The 10 national parks were Doi Inthanon, Huai Nam Dang, Doi Pha Hom Pok, Doi Suthep Pui, Khao Yai, Kang Krajan, Erawan island, Surin island, and Similan island.

Doi Inthanont, the highest mountain in the country located in the northern province of Chiang Mai, was the favourite destination for nearly 70,000 tourists over the past five days.

The northeastern Khao Yai was the second most popular place for tourists with 60,319 visitors, followed by Huai Nam Dang with 49,553, Doi SuthepPui 32,985, and Doi Pha Hom Pok with 12,061 tourists.

Uthai Vayupath, the department's chief, said national parks with waterfalls were popular, such as Jedsaonoi Waterfall, which attracted more than 10,000 tourists.

He conceded that during the New Year holidays the agency had failed to limit the number of tourists entering the national parks.

He said the agency will improve its measures to limit tourists entering the national parks during the next holiday season to prevent them from destroying sensitive sites.

Uthai urged the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport, and the Education Ministry, to encourage people to count down to the next New Year at temples instead going to pubs and bars.

-- The Nation 2009-01-06