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The purpose, she said, was to turn the national parks into fully eco-friendly locations.

"This is my idea. It's not yet a policy," Anongwan said.

The minister plans to establish a working committee to pursue the idea. The panel will then select national parks that should join the green-label scheme.

"At the pivotal phase, only some national parks will join the scheme so as to reduce the impact on tourists," Anongwan said.

Upai Wayupat, director-general of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, said key officials would report to the minister next week on how the scheme could be implemented.

"We would inform tourists at least 30 days in advance as to which national parks will be included in the scheme," he said.

The scheme looks set to discourage the use of foam containers, plastic bags and loud-engine vehicles inside the parks.

"We won't impose a ban, but we will seek tourists' cooperation in protecting the environment," Upai said.

He expects the green national-park scheme to take effect as early as the next New Year holiday.

He confirmed that his department would abandon a plan to invite private investors to run accommodation services inside national parks.

"The plan is suspended because society doesn't agree with it," Upai said.