DNP to demolish large resort in Wang Nam Kheow

The court had ordered the demolition of this resort earlier, but the owner appealed and asked the Council of State to see if this land could be rented from the DNP. However, the council ruled that national parkland could not be rented at all.
“We gave the owner a chance to appeal and waited for a decision from the Council of State. Now we could legally demolish this resort,” Damrong said, adding that the resort owner had pleaded with him as well.
“But we have to demolish other resorts as well,” he said, adding that eight private resorts were also going to be torn down for the same reason.
Previously, the DNP was planning to demolish 403 other resorts encroaching on national parks, but was only able to tear down three of them because it had to wait for the court verdict.
In a related report, Damrong said he had previously asked the government to allocate funds to set up some 400 forest-protection units, but the government only allowed the DNP to establish just 100 units nationwide to protect more than 100 million rai (16 million hectares) of forested areas. These protection units will be set up next year.
Damrong said that after visiting several countries including Kenya, the United States and Canada over the past month, he decided he would suggest that the government allow the private sector to manage national parks. This way, he said, the DNP could oversee the construction of structures so the ecosystem of the area is not damaged. Also, he said, the private operators would have to give DNP 50 per cent of their profit.
He said this would help ease the burden on DNP staff who have to handle tourism service and hospitality management at present.
“DNP staff should be working to protect the forests, not providing services for tourists,” he said.