Park entry fees waived till end-May

PHUKET: Entry to marine national parks and 15 other natural attractions in the Andaman coast provinces will be free of charge until May 31, the Chief of the Natural Resource and Environment Office, Kritwikrom Kaewklaa, has confirmed.

K. Kritwikrom’s said that the only exception to the waiver will be tour boats, which will still be charged for dropping anchor in marine national parks.

Speaking at Phuket Provincial Hall, K. Kritwikrom said that three parks – Laem Son and Koh Pha Yarm in Ranong Province, and Koh Phra Thong in Phang-Nga – will remain closed to visitors, to give them chance to recover from the tsunami.

He added that would-be visitors could find out the latest situation regarding islands and marine national parks they wished to visit from information centers at Tab Lamu in Phang Nga and Rassada Port in Phuket City.

He added that the Royal Thai Navy is looking to set up an early warning system in the Similans to warn of tsunamis and other natural disasters.