A walk in the park: Business as usual at 'encroaching' resorts
It's business as usual for many of the 140 resorts charged with building in Thap Lan and some that were demolished are starting anew. With a drawn out judicial process, the involvement of 'influential figures' and a new, less aggressive parks chief, conservationists are not optimistic about reversing the trend
- Published: 30 Dec 2012 at 00.00
- Newspaper section: Spectrum
oDwn a path leading into dense bush at Thap Lan National Park, Chaloem Jainok and her family are busy gathering wood for a New Year's Eve bonfire they're planning to hold at their resort, Ban Thong Kham. The resort has been fully booked since early this month, filling up with holiday revellers and those planning to see in the New Year here.
NOT THE LAST RESORT: Above, tourists are returning to Thap Lan National Park in Wang Nam Khieo district. Below left, Ban Pha Ngam resort, one of 140 resorts charged with encroaching on Thap Lan. Right, owners of this resort, formerly known as the Rai Kullavanich resort, plan to turn it into a dhamma training centre.
Not far from Ban Thong Kham, manager Kanit Pangnakorn is busy receiving guests at Im Poo Hill Resort. The reception area of the 16-building resort is buzzing with people and throughout the second floor restaurant there is the din of diners chatting and enjoying lunch. Im Poo Hill was also fully booked for most of the latter half of this month.
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