The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is planning to make "efforts against coralbleaching" a national agenda.
"We will seriously solve this problem," Songtham Suksawang said yesterday in his capacity as the head of DNP nationalparks division.
Many diving sites at famous marine national parks in the Andaman Sea have been closed to tourists since January 21 after coral bleaching killed a large portion of reefs.
"We will propose zoning for diving attractions," Songtham said.
He added that admissionfee hike and the ceiling on the number of tourists each day might also be used to protect the coral reefs.
Songtham was speaking during a brainstorming session on the coralbleaching crisis.
The event drew in academics, divers, government officials, and representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Prince of Songkla University lecturer Sakanan Plathong said coral reefs could be restored in many areas if relevant parties could minimise disruptive activities.
Sakanan called for the closing of diving sites and creation of artificial reefs.
"Constructions near the sea must also be strictly regulated," he added.
For Sea Foundation secretary Vittayen Muttamara, who also serves as the secretary to a PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey, said he would submit the information gathered from the brainstorming session to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva next Tuesday.
Apart from the coral bleaching, the session also heard about admissionfee corruption at marine national parks.
An independent diving guide said he recently brought a tour group to a national park in the Andaman Sea and found officials offering him a 40percent discount on admission fees if he did not demand receipts or tickets.
"DNP should look into the matter," he said.
TAT representative Kulpramote Wannalert said a 2010 survey found that Thailand's sea was the most powerful magnet.
"Coralbleaching news has not made any big impact on tourism yet," she said.
