Weera criticizes park facilities; DNP explains and considers PPP

Matichon•General•8d ago

Reader Briefing

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation clarified the conditions of Similan Islands accommodations following criticism from MP Weera Teeraphatranon.

•Weera Teeraphatranon criticized the poor quality of national park accommodations during a budget committee meeting on August 5.
•The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation stated that overnight stays at Similan Islands have been banned since October 4, 2018.
•The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation explained that lights are turned off at 20:00 to prevent disturbing wildlife behavior.
•The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will study the feasibility of using Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for accommodation management.

Overview

•On August 5, 2026, a committee meeting was held to consider the Budget Expenditure Act for the fiscal year 2027.
•Weera Teeraphatranon criticized national park services as wretched, citing iron-spike beds, lack of hot water, and lack of internet.
•Weera Teeraphatranon proposed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment consider a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for park accommodations.
•The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation clarified that overnight stays at Similan Islands were banned via a notification dated October 4, 2018.
•The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation stated that scheduled power shutdowns are used to reduce energy use and prevent human light and noise from disturbing wildlife.
•The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation noted that the Huyong housing at Ko Meang was converted into staff housing after the overnight stay ban.
•The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will study the PPP proposal within the framework of the National Park Act 2019.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Weera Teeraphatranon

"The quality of service and accommodation in the parks, including the Similan Islands which I visited 4 years ago, must be described as very wretched."

คุณภาพของบริการและที่พักในอุทยาน ไม่ว่าจะเป็นที่หมู่เกาะสิมิลัน ซึ่งผมไปมาเมื่อ 4 ปีที่แล้ว นี่ต้องพูดว่าเลวทรามมากเลย

Key Entities

Person

Weera Teeraphatranon(วีระ ธีรภัทรานนท์)

A committee member who criticized the quality of national park accommodations.

Boonchong Wongtrairat(บุญจง วงศ์ไตรรัตน์)

MP for Nakhon Ratchasima from the Bhumjaithai Party and the 3rd Deputy Chairman of the Extraordinary Committee.

Organization

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation(กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช)ℹ️

The government agency responsible for managing national parks and responding to the criticisms regarding accommodations.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

The ministry whose budget for 15 agencies, totaling 38,625,155,100 baht, was under consideration.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

The political party to which Boonchong Wongtrairat belongs.

Place

Similan Islands National Park(อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะสิมิลัน)

A national park cited by Weera Teeraphatranon for poor service quality.

Ko Meang(เกาะเมียง)

The location of the Huyong housing in the Similan Islands National Park.

Law

Budget Expenditure Act for the Fiscal Year 2027(พระราชบัญญัติงบประมาณรายจ่ายประจำปีงบประมาณ พ.ศ.2570)

The draft act being considered by the Extraordinary Committee on August 5.

National Park Act 2019(พระราชบัญญัติอุทยานแห่งชาติ พ.ศ.2562)

The law under which the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will study the PPP model.