Tham Luang Cave in Thai North to be developed as safe tourist site

BANGKOK, July 3 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will develop the Tham Luang Cave in the compound of the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the northern Chiang Rai Province to become a safe tourist site. Thanya Netithammakul, Director-General of the ministry's Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, told journalists of the policy on Tuesday, saying that his department has been assigned by Thai Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Karnjanarat to work out a new management plan of the Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai area, covering the entire area in the cave and its neighborhood, to become more appropriate and safe for international tourists. Thanya revealed that he has initially instructed his department's officials to conduct a new survey for the entire area in the cave and its surrounding zones to mark focal and dangerous areas, as well as to improve the landscape and the ecological system of its neighborhood and to work out an updated, easy-to-understand map of the cave and its vicinity. According to the senior official, the development plan of the Tham Luang Cave and its neighborhood will be implemented after the ongoing rescue mission of the 13-member young Thai soccer team, comprising of 12 young Thai soccer trainees, aged 11-16 years old, and their 25-year-old coach, will end when all members of the young team leave the cave home safely. The senior official announced, meanwhile, that his department normally closes all tourism caves across the country, through which rainwater can pass, during May-July every year or until the annual rainy season ends for the sake of safety of local people and international tourists. (TNA)