Garbage invades underwater wedding island in Trang

Plastic and glass bottles, foam boxes and other discarded gunk fouls the beach at Koh Kradan, an island popular for its underwater wedding ceremony, in Trang.(Photo by Methee Muangkaew)

TRANG - A huge amount of garbage has washed up on the beach at Koh Kradan, a celebrated international destination for underwater weddings, raising fresh concerns about waste management on the tourist island.

Empty plastic and glass bottles, plastic bags, foam boxes and other environmentally destructive waste litter the main beach of the island in tambon Koh Libong of Kantang district.

Not only is it an eyesore, it emits a foul smell.

Nonthawat Sukmongkhol, a fourth-year environmental student at Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Trang campus, and his friends made a visit to Koh Kradan and complained to local media about the amount of garbage despoiling the island.

He said trash strewn along the beach badly eroded Koh Kradan's reputation and its attraction for tourists, and could affect the popularity of its world-acclaimed annual underwater wedding ceremony.

Mr Nonthawat said tour operators, and tourists themselves, should help keep the island free of garbage. A clean-up was urgently needed, and all should participate.

Narong Khong-ied, head of Hat Chao Mai national park, said anti-littering campaigns and the park’s own garbage disposal measures would address the problem.

Tour operators who bring visitors to the island would be asked to take away their garbage, instead of leaving it on the shore.

Legal action would be taken against offenders, Mr Narong said.