Mu Koh Chang national park, a popular resort destination for both Thai and foreign tourists, is only partially closed.

On Sunday, the park’s chief issued an order closing “all tourism-related activities”, which was interpreted to include hotels. It is now clear, however, that the closure only affects camp sites and other tourism-related activities in the park until further notice, in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.

In 1982, Mu Koh Chang was declared a national park. It consists of 52 islands, including the main island of Koh Chang and parts of Koh Kood, covering a total area of 650 square kilometres. 70% of the park’s area is sea.

In 2004, however, the national park was declared a special area for sustainable tourism, by the Organization for the Administration of Special Areas for Sustainable Tourism.