Long-tailed boat owners protest against double pricing scheme
Local people used over 100 long-tailed boats and speedboats to block the pier of Nopparat Thara-Koh Phi Phi Island National Park Wednesday to protest against double pricing of entrance fees against foreign tourists.
The blockade by the long-tailed boats and speedboats happened at 7 am.
The protesters, who operate the boats for tourists, called on the park to reduce the entrance fee for foreign adults from Bt400 to Bt200 and foreign children from Bt200 to Bt100.
During the protest, about 300 troops, police and park officials were deployed to keep security.
At 9 am, the protesters sent their representatives to attend a meeting with Natthapol Ratanaphan, director of the management of the park and Sarawut Tanthien, chief of the park.
At 12:30 pm, the meeting agreed to forward the demand to the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department to consider. The process would take about 20 days so the protesters dispersed pending a decision from the department.
