BANGKOK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- An environmental restoration campaign has been launched on Patong beach, the most favorite tourist spot in Thailand's Phuket.
Patong beach has been largely affected by garbage, dumped around in beach area and in the sea off the beach, prompting local authorities to launch the environmental conservation campaign, said Patong Municipality Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup on Monday.
The volume of garbage dumped in Patong beach area, frequented by both Thai and foreign visitors, has alarmingly risen over the last several years, thus calling for the campaign to regularly dispose of it and restore the beach's natural beauties, Chalermluck said.
A large volume of garbage including plastic bags and bottles has been dumped in the sea off the beach daily only to pollute the water and harm corals and other aquatic lives, she said.
Plastic waste could adversely affect marine ecology and possibly kill manatees and sea turtles which may have swallowed it.
No less than 300 million U.S. dollars in tourism-related earnings is expected in and around Patong beach throughout this year, according to the woman mayor.
