Pandemic respite for Thai 'sea gypsies' threatened by mass tourism

10 Sept 11:01 Key points summarised by AI

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a temporary reprieve for Thailand's "sea gypsies" (Chao Lay), reducing mass tourism pressures, allowing fish stocks to recover, and pausing real estate development on their ancestral lands in Phuket.
With tourist activity halted, the Chao Lay experience easier and safer fishing, facing fewer risks from authorities in protected marine reserves, a stark contrast to their previous struggles with depleted resources and dangerous practices.
The pandemic has also temporarily halted the threat of eviction from their ancestral beachfront land in Rawai, where property developers have sought to displace them, underscoring their ongoing fight for land rights and cultural preservation.
Anthropologists advocate for the government to leverage this pause to fundamentally re-evaluate its approach to the Chao Lay, proposing measures like permanent land allocation and specialized education to safeguard their unique heritage against the detrimental effects of mass tourism.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Yesterday 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.