Thailand recently issued a ban on wearing sunscreens in their national parks, usually an essential item for tourists visiting the sunny country, to mitigate the damage done to coral reefs.
In an effort to protect its coral reefs and help them flourish, a proposal was issued by the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), to ban sunscreen containing certain chemicals (octinoxate, butylparaben, 4-methylbenzylid camphor). Studies have revealed that it bleaches coral and destroys its reproductive system.
As of Wednesday, 4 August 2021, anybody violating the regulation can face a fine of up to 100 000 baht (R43 000). The country’s tourism is heavily reliant on its beach-based activities, but he DNP’s decision prioritised the integrity and longevity of its natural resources.
Much of Thailand’s incredible beaches and islands are part of the country’s national park system, making the ban difficult to avoid for tourists. But this is not a ban on all sunscreen, just an added consideration for travellers to be conscious of the kind of sunscreen they apply, so you don’t have to worry about returning home looking like a crayfish.
Visiting Thailand
Even though Thailand’s Covid-19 cases are on the rise, the country is still open to travellers provided they present a negative test and proof of a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a hotel and mandatory Covid-19 insurance that covers $100,000. The insurance must cover the length of the trip.
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