Phuket’s Coastal Clean Up

In a recent drive to protect Phuket's beaches from over development, government officials and tourism operators have teamed up to clean up the island’s coastline.

One group dubbed the ‘Go Eco Phuket’ team, is made up of different community groups including scuba divers, dive shops and a number of other local businesses. who joined together with residents from across the island to take part in one of the largest coastal and reef clear-ups Thailand has ever seen.

The event, which took place on August 3rd, 2014, saw teams clear up the bays and reefs within the vicinity of Racha Yai and Racha Noi. The event is estimated to have removed an impressive total of 1,000 kg of rubbish and debris from the reefs and bays surrounding the popular tourist island.

“The high profile cleaning of the reefs and beaches of these lovely islands will not only help to return Racha Yai and Racha Noi to their natural pristine states, but also help promote an ethos of responsible travel and tourism,” said Thawatchai Arunyik, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

August’s big clean was the third event organised by the ‘Go Eco Phuket’ team. The inaugural event, which took place in September 2012, saw more than 650 divers and beach cleaners do away with 15 tons of rubbish from the island’s shoreline. Their rubbish haul included a discarded fishing net that weighed in at more than 4.5 tons.

On Phuket particularly, the local communities are known for taking a great deal of pride in the tropical treasures which continue to attract record visitors to the island. Coastal activities on Phuket include surfing, wake boarding, snorkelling and diving.

Meanwhile, visitors that want to keep their feet on dry land can also enjoy Phuket’s beaches which are cleaner thanks to the efforts of groups like ‘Go Eco Phuket’.

by MAX VEE