sign in a cave in Laos

20 February 2018

Railay Cave vandalism, Krabi

Late 2017 I was back at Railay in Krabi. On Feb 19 2018 The Nation reported that the Railay Beach cave tunnel had been vandalised with graffiti.

Tourists vandalise Railay Beach cave tunnel

Tourists seeking to leave their mark on Thailand have vandalised a cave tunnel leading onto Krabi’s popular Railay Beach, carving their names and other graffiti in the rock walls and stalactites.

Hard objects were used to scrawl names and messages along the 200-metre passage, said Somboon Ngafa, chairman of the Railay Bay Tourism Association Club.

The beach and bay itself are under the aegis of Haad Nopparat Thara-Phi Phi National Park.

Somboon said park officials often warn and reprimand tourists about marking up the cave passage, but there’s not enough staff to keep close watch.

The club has asked the operators of resorts on the beach to appeal to tourists to forego any such activities.