Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) will launch a fully operational e-ticketing system at six marine national parks on October 15, 2025, aligning with the beginning of the tourist season. The project aims to increase park revenue by 10 percent and improve transparency in entrance fee collection, following ongoing concerns about corruption in traditional ticket sales.
The announcement was made by DNP Director-General Attapol Charoenchansa during a press conference on April 28, 2025. He noted that an earlier version of the e-ticket system had been introduced at selected parks in 2023, but limitations in user-friendliness and functionality in remote areas had necessitated significant upgrades. The enhanced system will first be applied to Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi, Ao Phang Nga, Than Bok Khorani, Mu Ko Similan, Mu Ko Surin, and Mu Ko Lanta national parks, with later expansion planned to other high-revenue parks.
Entrance fees provide critical funding for forest conservation and sustainable tourism efforts. Under the current allocation model, 5 percent of fee income supports local administrative organisations, 20 percent goes to park management teams, 60 percent funds conservation activities, and 15 percent is reserved for emergencies. From October 1, 2024, to April 20, 2025, national parks in Thailand recorded 11.74 million visitors, generating 1.55 billion baht in revenue, a 2.6 percent increase over the previous year. Marine parks contributed 65.8 percent of the total, with Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi leading in earnings.
Attapol emphasized that implementing the e-ticket system is expected to eliminate revenue loss and corruption, supporting the department’s commitment to protecting natural resources and promoting sustainable tourism. Additional revenue generated will also fund new initiatives aimed at supporting communities living within forest zones.
