Chinese tourists in Thailand face jail, fines for touching ‘cute’ starfish, stepping on coral reefs
- Two visitors admitted to the offence after turning themselves in to the police, while the third suspect remains at large
- Thai social media users directed their ire at ‘wild Chinese tour groups’, while others blamed diving instructors for not telling guests about the laws
The incident, which happened last week on the Thai island of Koh Racha, came to light following photos shared by a group that tracks environmental transgressions in the country.
Environment minister Varawut Silpa-archa said in a Facebook post that two visitors admitted to the offence after turning themselves into police, while the third suspect was still at large.
Varawut added officials coordinated with the provincial tourism police, marine office and the company that organised the trip to track down the lawbreakers. He did not elaborate if the missing tourist was still being pursued.
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If found guilty, the visitors culd face two years in prison and a 200,000 baht (US$5,670) fine.
The two-month-old travel firm that led the tour apologised for the behaviour of the tourists who were part of a diving group, saying it was the establishment’s first junket and it “learned a lesson”.