Over 5,300 Visitors Flock to Thai Nature Parks for Royal Birthday

On July 30, 2024, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin announced the success of his conservation-focused tourism initiative, which offers the public access to natural attractions while promoting forest preservation. The ministry tasked the Forestry Department with developing all 37 national recreation forests nationwide into quality nature tourism destinations and waived entrance fees at seven facilities during the royal birthday period to encourage families to spend time in nature.

Suchat revealed that the 37 national recreation forests across Thailand welcomed a combined 5,315 visitors and tourists during the July 28 royal birthday celebration, demonstrating the success of conservation tourism policies and appropriate public access to natural areas. The three most popular recreation forests were Bok Luek in Ubon Ratchathani, Hin Sam Wale in Bueng Kan, and Khao Ito Waterfall in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Other acclaimed natural attractions drawing steady visitor interest include Aiyerweng Sea Mist in Yala, Khao Soon in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bo Sip Song in Phayao, and Dong Roi Thao Arkhosawr in Phetchabun, all serving as distinctive and resource-rich natural learning sites.

Suchat emphasized that conservation tourism not only provides recreation and ecological education but also generates income, stimulates grassroots economies through local goods and services, and enables community participation in sustainable resource management. "The ministry will continue promoting conservation tourism to ensure Thai citizens can access natural sites under management that balances ecosystem health with sustainable resource use, creating prosperity for people and strength for local communities alike," he said.

On July 30, 2025, Kritsada Bunyruang, a Class 32 alumnus of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science, submitted an urgent letter to the university's alumni association requesting special assistance in supporting the family of Bowortthat Pengsuk, known as Hlun Solo, a Class 71 alumnus. The letter asks the alumni association to serve as the family's primary contact and advocate, particularly on two critical matters.

First, coordinating the rights of the deceased in a foreign jurisdiction and arranging repatriation to Thailand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Consular Affairs Department and the Thai Embassy in Ankara (which oversees Georgia), is currently working with Georgian police on autopsy results and consular death certificate documentation. However, due to distance and Georgian legal procedures, the writer requests the alumni association's help in closely monitoring and coordinating with both the family and the Foreign Ministry, particularly if obstacles arise regarding documentation, translation, funeral arrangements, or transporting the body back to Thailand.

Second, protecting digital asset rights and income from YouTube (Google AdSense) and Facebook. Bowortthat was a renowned creator whose Hlun Solo YouTube channel has over 900,000 subscribers and Facebook fan page has 2.5 million followers. Since he may not have left a will or designated financial beneficiaries, the family risks losing channel rights and unpaid income if they do not act quickly according to platform policies. Under Thai law and Google policy, heirs must petition the court to appoint an estate administrator, then submit the court order and death certificate via an official form to claim channel management rights and unpaid earnings—and they must maintain channel activity within six months to avoid losing monetization status. Similarly, for the Facebook fan page and account, the family must submit a request form with the death certificate and court-appointed estate administrator order to request a status change for the account.

At a press briefing on July 30, 2025 at Government House, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister discussed plans to reorganize the Interior Ministry in August, avoiding the term "reset" but confirming sweeping personnel changes. Anutin described the exam cheating scandal as deeply troubling and said it has eroded public trust, requiring urgent action. He explained that officials will be held accountable through criminal, civil, and disciplinary proceedings, and noted that within just two weeks authorities were able to uncover the cheating scheme and identify those involved.

When asked about the scale of transfers planned for August, Anutin deflected the question, stating that moves would be made based on job suitability and changing circumstances, not arbitrary classifications. He rejected suggestions that transfers would favor one political faction over another, asserting: "There is no such thing. This government is red, white, and blue only—no other colors." Anutin stressed that personnel decisions would reflect management principles of supporting competent officials while swiftly addressing and preventing misconduct.

PHUKET: A Moroccan tourist was injured after being struck by a pickup truck in Patong early this morning (July 30), while a Thai motorcyclist was killed after losing control on a curve in Kamala in a separate accident reported by police.

Governor Traiphop Wongtraratana has ordered a strict environmental crackdown following reports of massive fish kills in Khlong Nong Nam Khao, near Nong Lalok Market in Ban Khao District, after discovering a private wood-processing factory secretly dumping wastewater into the canal. The governor directed the Rayong Center of Good Governance, Ban Khao District Office, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and local volunteers to investigate and trace the source of the contamination urgently.

During the field inspection, officials found dead fish and collected water quality samples from four locations. While the initial readings from the canal itself met standard criteria for aquatic life, testing of wastewater directly from WUTCorporation Limited—a wooden pallet manufacturer—revealed severely contaminated black water. The factory's discharge had a dangerously low dissolved oxygen level of 0.76 mg/l, an abnormally high pH of 8.75, a TDS of 1,943 mg/l, and conductivity of 2,970 us/cm, all of which likely caused the fish deaths and water degradation in the canal.

The governor implemented four corrective measures: the factory must immediately close all wastewater discharge pipes and pump out accumulated black water for treatment within three days; local authorities will issue a compliance notice and order; the Rayong Industrial Office will inspect the facility's drainage systems and operations for legal compliance on July 31; and local officials will warn residents not to consume or sell the dead fish.

Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasertsil stated on July 30, 2026, that data compilation for the local civil service exam fraud case is complete and the CCEELGO will hold its next meeting next week to finalize implementation procedures. He confirmed that all information is finalized and the figures are complete. When asked about the discrepancy between the NACC's figure of 5,960 implicated officials and the DLA's figure of 5,925, Worasit said his understanding is 5,925, and the higher NACC count likely includes cases outside the committee's scope, though he expressed confidence that all allegations can be proven with factual evidence. He explained that the revocation of civil servants' positions must follow proper procedure: approval by the CCEELGO, then the central civil service committee, then provincial committees, before local government organizations can take action. Worasit rejected concerns about delays or cover-ups, stating that every process has its own timeline and no steps can be skipped. He noted that while progress may not be immediately visible, investigations by the NACC and police continue daily. Regarding five DLA officials facing serious disciplinary action, he said the process is underway and warrants have already been issued. On whether they will be blacklisted by the civil service commission, he said the director-general must verify that all procedures comply with contractual terms and legal requirements regarding payment and fund recovery. When pressed whether next week's meeting will provide clarity on both certification and revocation of officials, Worasit said yes, and firmly denied any suggestion of a cover-up, stating that everything has been finalized—only formal announcement remains pending completion of procedural requirements.