THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched the “Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand” project to collect waste from tourist attractions and even using them to make fashionable items, NNT said today (March 31).
TAT Governor Yutthasak Suphasorn said that the agency has cooperated with PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) and the Ecoalf Foundation to launch the “Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand” initiative with the goal of collecting garbage and waste products from the Kingdom’s seas and coastal areas, especially in popular marine tourist areas.
Tourism is one of Thailand’s top revenue earners but Thailand only ranks 35th in the world in terms of travel and tourism competitiveness according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). This disparity reflects the challenges in Thailand’s tourism development.
The initial target areas will include the east coast of Thailand (Samet island, Rayong); the Gulf of Thailand (Koh Tao island, Surat Thani), and the Andaman Sea (Phuket). The initiative will also categorize waste to promote proper waste management and recycling.
Reusable material will be used in the production of fashionable items such as coats, shoes, or bags. The TAT believes this act of reusing discarded items will promote the awareness of environmental conservation.
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Top: A school of fish swimming in the waters off Similan Islands. Photo: Phuket@photographer.net (CC-BY-2.0)
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