36 ‘illegal’ resorts face demolition in Thap Lan National Park

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Thap Lan National Park officials set up signs early yesterday warning that 36 resorts allegedly encroaching on the park will be demolished, despite reports of officers being threatened while putting the signs up at some places earlier.

The park covers parts of Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri provinces and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Park chief Thewin Meesap said park officials would post the signs at five to six places a day to cover all 36 resorts to be demolished in Tambon Thai Samakkhi and Tambon Nam Kheow in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Kheow district.

The 36 resorts were among 291 resorts investigated for possible encroachment on the park, but no-one claimed ownership of them.

In Prachin Buri, signs have already been posted at 90 resorts, Park chief Thewin said, and the owner of Ban Pha Ngam resort would finish demolishing it by the end of the year.

— Phuket Gazette Editors