John Gray's Sea Canoe, a pioneer in green canoe tourism and ecological sustainability, along with Monsoongarbage Thailand and Psi Scott (Merman), an ocean sustainability influencer, raise environmental consciousness among tourists and locals by collecting marine debris across multiple islands in Ao Phang Nga National Park on the occasion of National Mother's Day, 12 August 2024.
With the commitment to create a better world and bring tourists closer to the wonders of the ocean, John Gray's Sea Canoe always provides knowledge about nature conservation. It also invites tourists to collect marine debris along the way on every trip, as well as organising special activities such as the "Collecting Marine Waste and Planting Mangrove Forests 2023". This activity was held together with Ao Phang Nga National Park to collect the debris and plant mangrove trees around Koh Roi area with more than 70 interested participants.
Pongvarut Pangsrivongse, owner and Head of Business Development of John Gray's Sea Canoe, shared insights on the idea of conserving nature and ongoing marine debris cleanup efforts of John Gray's Sea Canoe, "We strongly believe that John Gray's Sea Canoe's tourism business should not only generate profits, but also benefit the community and the environment. We have remained committed to this concept from the start and continue to do so. Our paddling route integrates knowledge about the surrounding natural wonders of Ao Phang Nga National Park, which is one of the most outstanding and unique tourist attractions in Thailand. At the same time, It is combined with details on eco-friendly practices, increasing tourists' awareness of sustainable tourism."
On the occasion of National Mother's Day, 12 August 2024, John Gray's Sea Canoe, together with Monsoongarbage Thailand, organised another marine debris collecting activity. Even though there were no participated tourists this time, the presence of Psi Scott, an ocean sustainability influencer who completed a 50-kilometre swim in the ocean in 2 days and became the first person to successfully swim the longest distance in Thailand, 25 kilometers, with a team of over 40 people still made the experience just as special. Beyond the usual plastic and foam waste floating in the ocean or left on the beaches, this time we discovered large TV screens and PlayStation consoles discarded in the Koh Lawa area. This unexpected and troubling finding is particularly concerning for an island renowned as a natural classroom and a centre of environmental education in Thailand.
Mr. Pongwarut added, "We have strong faith in our team's potential. Beyond informing tourists about ecological sustainability, we have stepped up as key leaders in environmental action, from collecting debris in the sea and on the beach to planting mangrove forests. We have invited people from various backgrounds, including tourists, university students, tour companies, and local activist groups, such as Monsoongarbage Thailand, which has campaigned for the environment in Phuket for many years, to be involved in our continuous activities. This year, we have already organised 3-4 activities, with the kind support from Ao Phang Nga National Park. In addition to the marine debris collection mission, John Gray's Sea Canoe also plays a part in preserving the environment of the community, especially by maintaining the cleanliness of the area near Ao Por Pier and collecting garbage on the beach in Thalang District. On the occasion of National Mother's Day, 12 August 2024, we are very pleased to be a part of the marine debris collection activity again, thanks to Monsoongarbage Thailand and Psi Scott. Based on the idea 'To leave the world better than we found it, sometimes we have to pick up someone else's trash', our hope is that this significant action will raise awareness and contribute to preserving the beauty of the ocean in long term."
John Gray's Sea Canoe continues to emphasise the concept of nature conservation and sustainable tourism throughout 2024 by joining Monsoongarbage Thailand, a leader in environmental conservation in Phuket, to explore and collect marine debris on islands in Ao Phang Nga National Park area. The activity invites tourists, students, and local tour agencies to participate in mangrove planting in the morning, followed by a continuation with the Hong by Starlight package, a tour along the canoe route that Mr. John Gray has established as a tourism attraction since 1989. The sight of the limestone cliffs surrounding the lagoon is the most exciting highlight of Koh Hong throughout the afternoon. Your adventure ends with the spectacular sight of glowing bioluminescent plankton at night.