The cool winter weather drew millions of visitors to popular tourist areas and national parks over the long holiday, generating considerable income for local authorities. However, the large crowds have left behind a garbage problem that is slowly being resolved.
Apparently, it is normal that an increased amount of rubbish was left behind after large numbers of tourists took advantage of the country’s attractive countryside. It is expected that local authorities would be able to clean up the refuse within a few days.
Phetchabun Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office chief Sukit Rattnaviboon said there was not a serious garbage problem in Phu Tub Berk this year.
Phu Tub Berk, the popular mountain winter retreat for domestic tourists, experienced a severe garbage problem in 2015. Pictures of piles of garbage were published nationwide, which accumulated due to a large number of tourists and improper management.
In order to prevent a reoccurrence, local authorities had distributed garbage bags to tourists before they entered the mountain area to persuade them to collect their own garbage.
The campaign was successful, as this year there was not a large garbage mountain in Phu Tub Berk, even though this tourist attraction welcomed a huge crowd of tourists during the New Year holidays.
Khao Yai National Park also declared success in the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department’s “Garbage Return Home” campaign, in which tourists could exchange garbage for a souvenir on their way out of the area.
According to Khao Yai National Park officials, there was about 20 tonnes of garbage disposed of at the park during the long weekend, 1.5 tonnes of which was involved in the ‘Garbage Return Home’ campaign.
Whilst the reduction in rubbish is welcome, it is sad that the problem exists at all. Thailand is a beautiful country and its people are proud of their heritage. Therefore, it shouldn’t be a problem to use litter disposal facilities provided to keep the countryside looking at it its best.
Even in urban areas, there are litter problems, particularly in the vicinity of full litter bins. The urban villages have nowhere near enough bins provided and the collectors appear to have no interest in picking up overspill. There are several obvious solutions. More litter bins are needed and they need emptying more often.
EVERYONE can help to reduce the litter in our streets by picking up at least one bit of litter everyday and disposing of it appropiately. The excuse that ” I didn’t drop it so it’s not my responsibility” is not acceptable. Litter is unsightly and unnecessary so let’s help to clean our country up.
(Source: The Nation, Thailand)