Zany of visitors to Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun sparked issues among officers, following its inclusion within the UNESCO World Heritage Site record on September 19. The province was ill-prepared for the escalated tourist numbers, leading to calls for quick motion to guard the park and manage the crowds.
Chatchaval Benchasiriwong, the 54 12 months outdated deputy governor of Phetchabun, stated on Sunday that the province had failed to implement essential measures to manage the park after it was initially added to UNESCO’s tentative record in 2019. He revealed that the variety of daily guests had skyrocketed from 300 to approximately 7,000.
We want an urgent answer to protect Si Thep Historical Park from harm amid tourist overcrowding, Chatchaval said. He expressed regret on the missed opportunity to organize the positioning for tourism over the past four years.
“We had time to arrange the location for tourism for four years, however why did we do nothing?”
The vacationer growth has led to complaints about inadequate amenities like parking spaces, meals, nearby lodging, and toilets, according to Chatchaval. In response, the governor instructed him to arrange mobile bogs and the provincial govt committees have convened to debate potential solutions.
A meeting between the governor, executives, and senior officials of the Ministry of Culture, which oversees the park, is anticipated within the close to future to chart a course of action.
Ancient cultural sites
Si Thep Historical Park, spread over an area of 867 hectares inside the Si Thep district, homes three cultural websites: the ancient Town of Si Thep, Khao Klang Nok, and Khao Thamorrat Cave. These ancient monuments date back to the Dvaravati period, a kingdom that held sway from the sixth to the 11th century. The Fine Arts Department (FAD) undertook the primary excavation of the positioning in 1978.
The park’s reputation triggered a surge of about 30,000 guests to Khao Klang Nok, an historic damage spanning sixty four metres in size and 20m in top, over the previous weekend, Chatchaval disclosed. To deal with safety issues, the FAD has temporarily closed off the ancient monument, allowing guests to take pictures solely from its base.
During his visit to Si Thep Historical Park on Friday, Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich expressed concerns over tourist security and potential damage to the historic site. He instructed the FAD to collaborate with Phetchabun and local authorities for higher site administration, Bangkok Post reported..