The ‘cig’ is up for travellers who love a durrie or two while relaxing on a beach in Thailand, because the country just issued a smoking ban for its popular beaches.
From November this year, travellers will be prohibited from lighting up on beaches located in 20 Thailand provinces, including Phuket, Koh Samui, Patong and Hua Hin.
Tourists caught having a smoko by the sea will be fined up to 100,000 Baht or receive a year in prison.
If you’re not a smoker, that’s probably the most delightful bit of a news you’ve heard all week.
For the smokers, there’s no need to stress because Thailand’s tourism leaders will establish designated smoking areas located inland with containers for the disposal of cigarette butts.
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Governor, Yuthasak Supasorn, said the aim of the smoking ban is to reduce litter, while also encouraging visitors to discard their waste in a proper way.
“These beaches are among the most beautiful in Southeast Asia, and the aim is to keep them that way.”
Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor
“The new smoking ban on Thai beaches is aimed at maintaining a clean and safe environment for everyone and to help with Thailand’s positive image as a wonderful tourist destination.”
Image: Marcin Kaliński/Unsplash
According to reports, the smoking ban comes after Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said they retrieved tens of thousands of cigarette butts from the country’s beaches in a year, including around 138,000 from Patong Beach alone.
Provinces included in the ban are: Phuket (Patong); Surat Thani (Bo Phut on Ko Samui); Krabi (Phra Ae and Khlong Dao on Ko Lanta); Chon Buri (Bang Saen and Pattaya as well as Tam Pang on Ko Si Chang); Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin and Khao Takiap); Phetchaburi (Cha-am); Phang-nga (Ko Khai Nok and Ko Khai Nai on Ko Yao); Songkhla (Chalatas); Pattani (Tha Wa Sukri); Rayong (Mae Phim); Chanthaburi (Laem Sing), and Chumphon (Sai Ri).
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