E-Ticket Policy Falters as Cash Handling Persists at Ko Phi Phi National Park

Krabi —

On January 17th, 2024, reporters revealed that a special task force from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) inspected measures to prevent corruption in the management of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi. 

The inspection followed the introduction of e-ticketing for park entry fees, aimed at curbing fraud. Officials reviewed fee collection practices at key tourist spots, including Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Don, and Bamboo Island. 

Despite Cabinet approval of the e-ticket system, which replaced cash collections to improve transparency, issues remain:

  1. Continued Use of Cash: Cash transactions are still prevalent, even though e-tickets were mandated.
  2. Risky Cash Transfers: Park staff transport daily cash collections exceeding one million baht via rubber dinghies to the mainland, exposing them to security risks from rough seas and theft.
  3. Limited Monitoring: Fee reporting often relies on self-declared tourist numbers by tour guides, leaving room for discrepancies.
  4. Funding Limitations: Regulations restrict parks to use only 20% of collected fees, capped at 30 million baht annually, while Ko Phi Phi generates over 600 million baht annually.

Assistant Secretary-General of the NACC Region 8, Mr. Suchart Gruaykitanon, noted that the e-ticket system was implemented in three pilot parks, including Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Similan Islands National Park, and Ao Phang Nga National Park, but has yet to reach full adoption. 

Only 10% of daily revenues, roughly tens of thousands of baht, are processed through e-tickets, compared to cash collections exceeding 1.6 million baht per day.

The cash-handling system, which has persisted for years, raises concerns about transparency. Tour operators often declare tourist numbers and pay in cash without verification, creating potential for misreported revenues.

Moreover, carrying large sums of money in unsafe conditions—using waterproof backpacks on small boats amid turbulent seas—poses a significant risk to staff and finances.

NACC officials emphasized the urgency of resolving these issues, calling on the Department of National Parks to:

  • Fully implement the e-ticket system across all parks.
  • Revise outdated regulations to allow parks to open individual accounts for direct fund management.

While the Department of National Parks acknowledged the need for reforms during a December 25th, 2023, meeting, progress remains slow. NACC findings reveal continued gaps, including fraudulent entry tickets reported at other parks, highlighting the broader scope of corruption risks.

In response, the NACC urged swift action to implement systemic changes that safeguard public funds and enhance transparency in the national park system.

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Kittisak Phalaharn
Kittisak has a passion for outgoings no matter how tough it will be, he will travel with an adventurous style. As for his interests in fantasy, detective genres in novels and sports science books are parts of his soul. He works for Pattaya News as the latest writer.