Phuket Increases Environmentally Friendly Tourism Rules

Thailand is a hotspot for tourists from all over the world, particularly those who are interested in the magical nature that the country is rooted in. From visiting the busy markets in Bangkok to lounging on the beaches of Phuket, there is something for everyone in Thailand.

As Thailand is best known for its natural beauty, it has become a well-known destination for eco-travellers. Visitors want a holiday that is in keeping with their own environmental standards, meaning they strive for a low-impact getaway that teaches them about the nature surrounding them. Opting for eco-friendly hotels, low-impact tours, and other environmental options to ensure that their holiday is a positive journey, both for them and the place they are visiting.

The Wonder of Phuket

Phuket is known as the “Pearl of the Andaman” and is the largest island in Thailand. It is a rainforest and mountainous area located at 576 square km, making the island so large that tourists rarely feel completely surrounded by water. The island is best known for its beaches and crystal clear water, making it a favourite destination for a tropical beach getaway.

However, the island is home to more than just sandy beaches and clear waters. It is also known for its conservation and educational centres. Phuket houses the Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insect World, one of the last butterfly gardens in Thailand. The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Centre can be found on the island as well, and it is a wildlife park and a research centre for plants and animals native to the region.

The island’s aquarium is the only public aquarium in the wider region. It functions as both an educational centre for tourists to learn about the region and a research centre for the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. It is part of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources—known as DMCR—which strives to educate locals and visiting tourists about the fragile beauty of Phuket’s oceans.

Phuket is a top destination for tourists interested in learning more about the region’s wildlife and oceans. For eco-travellers who wish to have a low-impact holiday, it is also a learning opportunity, giving them a way to educate themselves about conservation in Thailand and a magical holiday they will never forget.

Environmental Rules and Their Benefit to Phuket

Because Phuket’s natural wonders and resources are fragile, the government of Thailand has been pushing to protect wildlife and the ecosystems that sustain them. As science begins to learn more about the unfortunate consequences of human footprint, Thailand has taken steps to conserve its land.

The country has pioneered eco-tourism, marrying education on conservation issues with deluxe getaways and adventure packages for mindful tourists. It is home to some of the best low-impact tours in the region, and the number of eco-hotels and luxury resorts continues to grow. This has made the country a popular destination for environmental activists and the public who understand and value a land’s natural beauty.

• Animal Tourism

Animal eco-tourism continues to thrive, especially in Phuket. A non-governmental organisation called Openmind Projects, founded in 2001 is responsible for the rise of this particular type of conservation tourism. Because it has the full support and backing of the government, it is also one of the most reputable.

Thailand, through Openmind Projects and its own Tourism Authority of Thailand, offers volunteer programs that focus on the native wildlife of the region. Tourists can partake in projects that involve learning about and observing marine wildlife in low-impact ways.

These projects also allow tourists to help local communities in conservation efforts on land and at sea. Volunteers can help plant trees, learn more about humans’ impact on ecosystems, brainstorm ways to limit the impact, and more. Animal eco-tourism is perfect for animal advocates and tourists who are interested in marine conservation.

• Low-Impact Tours

Low-impact tours are a term for tours in and around the Phuket area that limit tourists’ impact on the landscape. These tours offer the public a chance to see Phuket’s natural and historic beauty in noninvasive ways that help secure the area’s bright future.

Low-impact tours consist of bike and walking tours that are close to the island’s hotels. Other tours use rowboats and canoes to navigate around the province’s many islands, allowing tourists to view—and enjoy—Thailand like the locals.

One of the most popular low-impact tours is the Sea Cave Canoe tour. Tourists can glimpse the beautiful Phang Nga Bay and its surrounding sea caves in canoes. Travelling in canoes limits boats’ impact on the coral and marine life that call the shore and these caves home.

• Water Conservation

Water conservation is the biggest effort in Thailand, especially in the Phuket area. Because it is an island, the government wants to help reduce the stress that tourists may have on the reef, the coral that makes it home, and the animals that live there.

The government has taken steps to help the shallow waters of Phuket find relief. It is limiting the number of islands that tourists can travel to by boat. This is part of a larger effort to preserve the marine biological ecosystem that makes the island such a popular destination.

For now, the islands of Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nui, and Koh Khai Nai have been restricted to the public. While the islands recuperate and the coral reefs surrounding them are studied, tourists will not have access to them.

This is for a good reason—Thailand is concerned about the marine ecosystems on those islands. It is thought that limiting the amount of human contact might allow the coral reefs to flourish once again. Although the islands are not available to tourists right now, the government has not mentioned restricting access forever. There is hope that the islands will once again welcome visitors.

Conservation advocates and conscious travellers will be glad to hear that the islands are getting a holiday as well. Thailand’s waters are known for having a vibrant and rare ecosystem, which is worth preserving.

Phuket and The Future of Ecotourism

Phuket is an interesting region to visit. It is full of beaches, laughter, and happiness. It makes sense that to maintain this laid-back way of life, ecotourism would become the province’s new form of teaching tourists about their country. As conservation becomes a reason to visit this beautiful area, it is hoped that more opportunities to help the area conserve its beauty will come to light.

• Eco-Friendly Phuket Resort

Choosing where to stay on your Phuket holiday is about making a choice that is right for the environment and you. Staying at this beach resort is one of the best decisions that you can make when visiting Phang Nga. With service like no other and beautiful architecture and design right next to the ocean’s edge, you will feel treated like royalty and a part of something more than just a luxury hotel. This eco-resort provides visitors with top luxury without taking away from the planet.

Located on the sunset side of the Andaman Sea and the pristine Natai Beach, Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa is just 20 minutes north of the Phuket International Airport. This luxury property is passionate about the environment. It was recently awarded the status of Thailand’s Best Small Green Resort.

Step outside your beachfront suites & villas, walk past your private plunge pool and be cradled by Natai Beach – a 20km stretch of pure white sand that serves as a monument to serenity; separate, yet connected, to a tourist haven’s playful cacophony. Lie on a private sundeck overlooking a beach awarded 5 stars for cleanliness and water quality. Swim and snorkel in tropical waters, warm and calm. Feel the sand between your toes. Sip a cocktail as a setting sun recolours the sky. Open your eyes after a deep slumber and be greeted by heaven on Earth from your bed.

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