Nakee Cave in Nakhon Phanom has been closed until next Thursday after seven guides and tourists visiting the popular attraction in Phu Langka National Park tested positive for Covid-19.
However, Naga Cave in neigbhouring Bueng Kan province is still open to tourists, park authorities said on Friday.
The seven confirmed Covid-19 cases involved people who had visited the Nakee Cave between Feb 5 and 10, national park officials said on their Facebook page. There were potentially many at-risk people as a result.
To prevent the spread of a virus outbreak, the national park decided to temporarily close the tourism attraction and not allow overnight stays during the period.
In the event that tourists have already booked air tickets or arrived at the venue, they could present those documents to park officials to seek permission to enter the tourist site.
Authorities will consider their requests on a case-by-case basis. But all tourists will be required to take antigen tests at the park’s registration venue.
In Bueng Kan, tourists flooded into Naga Cave in Phu Langka National Park over the weekend. The crowds were well beyond the cave’s capacity, leading to the transfer of some officials and a ban on some guides.
Naga Cave has become a must-seek attraction in the northeastern province thanks to social media influencers who help promote a rock shaped like a giant snake or the body of a serpent.