My search for the most eco-friendly beach destination in Thailand
Believe it or not, my search for the the most eco-friendly beach destination in THAILAND has uncovered a place I haven’t been to yet, and that is Koh Libong! I am sure most travelers have never heard of this relatively obscure island as well.
Koh Libong is the largest island in southern Thailand’s Trang Province. The island is home to a rather substantial colony of Dugongs, a large marine mammal that is closely related to the manatees. These creatures feed on the sea-grass beds that flourish off Koh Libong’s southeast coast. A colony of green turtles are also residents of the island.
From what I have read, there is more of a commitment to an environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism industry in Trang Province than anywhere else in Thailand. The governor of Trang Province has gone on record stating that he wants to avoid the haphazard and reckless tourism development that has ruined other island destinations in Thailand i.e. Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi etc.
In order to protect the natural beauty of the region, the Swedish Government has funded a master plan for sustainable development in Trang Province. In particular, on Koh Libong, Swedish environmentalists and Thai academicians from Bangkok have joined forces in an effort to make the island an ecotourism model for the region.
Three small Muslim fishing villages are scattered around the island – the native people in these communities seem to be enlightened about the need for conservation and environmentally friendly practices. The interior is home to rubber plantations and is heavily forested. There are only a handful of small resorts, all located on the west coast of the island. While many small beaches surround the island, there is only one “classical tropical beach” – a 1 KM stretch of golden sand fronted by clear, aquamarine waters.
Since I have never been to Koh Libong, I will have to wait to till I visit this island (and Trang Province), before I can assess the staying power of this sustainable tourism movement. If history teaches us anything, tourism development is usually guided by greed (and the pursuit of the almighty dollar) and has destroyed many an idyllic paradise.
Only time will determine the fate of Koh Libong and other island destinations in Trang Province. I have plans to do some reconnaissance there in 2010!
For your information, over the Christmas Holidays, I plan to visit Ko Lipe, considered by many to be overall, the most beautiful island in Thailand. From what I have read, Koh Lipe is another Island Paradise that’s on the threshold of getting trashed!
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Tags: dugongs, ecotourism, koh libong, sustainable tourism, Trang Province
August 15th, 2009 at 4:48 am
Hi
Having spent some 6 months on Ko Libong during the last 3 years, I’m afraid that things are not quite as rosy as you have painted.
Yes, there has been some effort to bring about an eco ethos on the island, but it has only been partially successful. The success bit rides on the introduction of a solar power station which contributes to some of the grid output. However, I gather there are now plans to run a power cable from the mainland sometime in 2010 which will give the island 24 hr electricity!
Of the three tourist resorts, there is one resort that would have you believe they are green and eco friendly (and contributing to the local communities). But by all reports, this has fallen by the wayside and is little more than a promotional scam now.
By far the biggest problem on the island is rubbish disposal. There are effectively no recycling operations working on the island and it’s something that needs addressing urgently. I have seriously been considering devoting my time to try and resolve this huge issue (which of course is not isolated to Libong, but to many of the Andaman islands).
If you have contacts or thoughts that might provide a catalyst for action - they would be appreciated.
J
PS If you could leave my name out at this point, I would be grateful, as the local people may not (in the short-term) welcome the dirty washing scenario!
September 16th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Will it be possible to do all the green things and teach the residents and visitors? Harvest rain water, compost, use biofuel motor boat, eat and stay at minimum impact. Instead of boating beer, make moonshine from coconut juice, etc.
about garbage disposal: A Swedish city in the south takes care of unrecyclable and uncompostable by using WTE waste to energy = controlled burning garbage and retrieving heat.
This research suggest WTE is a better methodthan landfill or in this case hauling back to mainland.
http://www.seas.columbia.edu/earth/wtert/sofos/Moy_ms_thesis.pdf
October 24th, 2011 at 7:37 am
I’ve been to Thailand five times and I have never heard of this secluded place. I think tourists need to be more careful because the Islands that were once the most beautiful places in the world have been destroyed, including Phuket and Koh Samui. I would actually encourage the tourism ministry of Thailand to limit the number of tourists to this untouched paradise on Earth but I doubt they will do this. People are greedy.