Koh Phan Gan, known for its pristine white sand beaches, clear waters and wild nightlife is home to the epic Full Moon Party held every month. The Haad Rin Beach, also known as the Sunrise Beach, is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, attracting thousands of revellers from around the globe. But amid music, there's also a fair share of madness that these music festivals bring. In recent years, this madness has crossed basic human ethics and morality causing significant repercussions to the local waters and beaches. In a viral video shared by travel content creator, Grant Barnes, he described the water as "filthy" and advised people not to jump into the water "even though it looks really nice." This is because intoxicated festival-goers have been found to defecate and urinate openly in the water. The local news report highlighted this problem.
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Even though Thailand's economy largely depends on tourism, especially during the Full Moon Party in this province, the tourism board is ill-equipped to handle the sewage system. The sewage discharge tremendously affects the quality of water as the aftermath of repeated wild nights of partying. The combination of alcohol consumption and limited waste management facilities exacerbates this issue, resulting in pollution that affects both the terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including coral degradation.
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While it is encouraged to experience this night of unlimited memories, it doesn't need to be turned into a night of absolute havoc to the environment. If you're planning a trip to this famous Thai town, keep these precautions in mind to mitigate the environmental impact without compromising it:
1. Prior planning to avoid using the restroom multiple times during the festival.
2. Ensure your hotel accommodations are near the beach for easy commuting.
3. Use designated restrooms. If they're occupied followed by long queues, head back to the hotel nearby and return to enjoy the rest of the night.
4. It's easy to binge away on holiday with food and drinks. The combination of the two, however, can result in frequent visits to the lavatory which you can avoid during the festival by eating and drinking as required.
5. Choose bio-degradable or eco-friendly body paint and toiletries to minimise chemical runoff in the ocean.
Enjoying nights of dancing and drinking shouldn't come at the expense of the environment. Festival-goers can still enjoy the musical night while minimising the environmental footprint ensuring these natural gems are preserved for the future generations of terrestrial and marine life.
