Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has presided over the launching of “Phuket Sandbox” as a model for the conservation of 72 beaches in honor of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty's 72nd birthday anniversary, 28 July 2024.

The Phuket Sandbox project was kicked off at Patong Beach in Krathu District, Phuket Province, on 8 August 2024, when the Prime Minister visited an exhibition on this project. 

As Thailand was listed among the world’s top 10 contributors to ocean plastic , he said, the Government deems it urgent to tackle this problem. It assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to launch Phuket Sandbox as a model to reduce marine waste in Phuket and to conserve beaches in other provinces, under the “72 Beaches Conservation Project” to mark His Majesty the King’s sixth-cycle, or 72nd birthday.

The project aims to raise awareness of natural resource and environmental conservation, which will lead to sustainable coastal and marine ecotourism. It also involves campaigns for reducing and stopping the use of single-use plastic products and for promoting the use of environmentally friendly packaging in coastal and marine tourism destinations.

Under this project, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has designated 72 target beaches in six coastal provinces, namely 1) Trat, 2) Rayong, 3) Chon Buri, 4) Surat Thani, 5) Trang, and 6) Krabi. These provinces will use Phuket Sandbox as their model to reduce the amount of marine debris. They will seek cooperation from traders along various beaches on proper waste management.

Thailand boasts many beautiful seaside destinations. Local people have been encouraged to join hands in keeping the beaches and seas clean and maintaining the beauty of the beaches. Accumulated garbage on the beaches must be collected. 

The Government believes that the beauty of Thai beaches will increase Thailand’s potential for attracting more tourist arrivals and bringing in more revenue for the country.