Thailand Minister promotes Khao Yai Forest School for eco-tourism

Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, visited the Khao Yai Training Center to oversee the operations of the “Forest People School.” The initiative aims to elevate eco-tourism by training high-quality tourists and fostering environmental awareness among the younger generation.

The Minister has ordered the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to establish the “Forest, Mountain, Water, and Sea Youth Protection Club.” This program is designed to provide children with hands-on learning experiences in natural environments, teaching them about biodiversity and forest history to ensure they become future guardians of the nation's resources.

To address rising safety concerns and ecological impacts from hiking, the Department of National Parks will use Khao Yai National Park as a model site. Officials are being trained as “conservation hiking instructors” to teach proper skills and environmental responsibility. For the 2026 fiscal year, the department has already conducted six training sessions for 208 instructors.