Thailand to shut national parks every year for ecological protection

With abundant natural flora and fauna and picturesque beaches, Thailand has been a popular tourist destination for a long time. But the coronavirus pandemic forced the nation to shut down tourism and this has proven to be a silver lining for the environment.

Seeing the improvement, Thailand's Environment Minister has announced that the nation will close its national parks for a few months every year to allow the natural habitat to recover and sustain itself for decades to come.

Thailand has more than 100 national parks and many popular hot spots like Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga Bay are a part of these parks. The closures will be staggered across the country.

For instance, Phi Phi Islands have been closed since 2018 and may remain shut beyond 2021 till the area recovers from the impact of mass tourism.