Thailand promotes Phuket as dive destination

TAT Phuket Office recently organised "Phuket- Save the Sea Project" to promote sustainable tourism and create awareness in marine conservation among stakeholders including tourists, divers as well as dive operators.

TAT Phuket director Nantasiri Ranasiri said voluntourism is gaining popularity among domestic tourists, especially towards the conservation of natural resources and the environment.

She said ocean cleanup activities give the opportunity for divers to take part in voluntourism, while indulging in the natural wonders of the underwater world.

"We hope through this project we will encourage responsible tourism and promote the diving sector of Phuket which was hit-hard by COVID-19 outbreak," she said.

Thailand plans to waive mandatory quarantine for vaccinated foreign tourists arriving on the resort island of Phuket starting July 1 to help revive the tourism industry. In preparation for the reopening, at least 70 per cent of the island's residents would be vaccinated.

A two-day programme on April 3 and 4 at Kata Beach featured several activities to promote the conservation of natural marine resources, including Collect Trash If You Can; Set Me Free (Diving); Beach Guardians and Their Ice-Cream; Sea and Sky Exhibition; workshop by local artists, KATA Night Dive; Underwater Shooting Marathon.

A total of 130 divers participated in the two-day event and they collected almost 140 kilogrammes of garbage comprising mostly ghost net, ropes and plastic trash such as bottles and spoons.

Besides that, the Underwater Photo Marathon showcased unique photography focusing on tackling the problem of marine littering in the Andaman Sea, rather than capturing beautiful images of colourful coral reefs and marine ecosystems.