Trampling on coral, Chinese tourists face jail in Thailand

The incident, which occurred last week on the Thai island of Koh Racha, was brought to light by images released by a non-profit organization that monitors environmental violations in the country.

If proven guilty, the tourists face up to two years in prison and a fine of 200,000 baht ($5,670).

Nhóm du khách Trung Quốc đối mặt tù tội ở Thái Lan vì giẫm đạp san hô - Ảnh 1. — Chinese tourists hold starfish to take pictures

In a Facebook post, Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said two tourists had confessed after turning themselves in to police, while the third suspect was still at large.

To find the violators, officials worked with the provincial tourist police, the maritime office and the tour company, Mr. Varawut said.

Officials have launched an investigation after photos and videos of tourists posing with the sea creatures emerged on social media. Marine environmental monitoring site Monsoon Garbage Thailand, which first shared the photos last week, has also called on authorities to look into whether the tour operator is properly licensed.

Nhóm du khách Trung Quốc đối mặt tù tội ở Thái Lan vì giẫm đạp san hô - Ảnh 2. — Three Chinese tourists trampled on coral

The tour company that organized the tour for the Chinese group apologized for the tourists' actions and said they had "learned a lesson." The company pledged to raise awareness among guests about protecting marine life, especially Chinese people who have been involved in similar incidents in the past.

Thailand has implemented a number of regulations to protect marine ecosystems and promote marine conservation. This includes protecting coral reefs, which are important for marine biodiversity. Some areas are designated as coral reef conservation areas, where activities such as fishing, anchoring and collecting marine life are prohibited or strictly regulated. Violators can face jail time and heavy fines.

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