Khao Yai National Park hopes its creative anti-litter campaign will motivate tourists returning home to take trash with them.
Tourists camp out at Khao Yai National Park to celebrate the new year. (Photo by Manit Sanubboon)
Some park employees dressed as traditional tree nymphs holding banners with the messages urging tourists to take away garbage on their way back, driving slowly and taking care of nature. They hoped that the new drive will catch the attention of motorists and make them more aware of attempts to keep the forest clean.
Weighing stations were set up at park exits with incentives for tourists who came down the mountain with rubbish.
A park official who did not want to be identified said visitors are given souvenirs ranging from sweets to toothpaste to park keychains, depending on the weight of the garbage they hauled away.
Tourists continued to enter Khao Yai on Friday for the New Year's holiday, and park chief Kanchit Srinoppawan estimated at least 18,000 visitors are staying there.
Khao Yai can be accessed either from the entrance in Pak Chong district in Nakhon Ratchasima province or Muang district in Prachin Buri province.