NACC Monitors Tourism Development Project in Trat's Black Sand Beach Area
Inspectors from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Director of the NACC Provincial Office in Trat, along with members of the STRONG – Anti-Corruption Club, visited the Marine and Coastal Resources Learning Center in Laem Ngop District, Trat Province. The visit aimed to monitor the progress of the Black Sand Beach Tourism Development Project, a unique attraction in Thailand, funded with a budget exceeding 183 million baht.
Mr. Piset Nakaphan, an Inspector of the NACC, stated that this visit to Trat Province was to inspect and monitor the progress of the Black Sand Beach Tourism Development Project. The project focuses on developing the tourism potential of the black sand beach and mangrove forest areas in Laem Ngop District, Trat Province. The allocated budget for the project, from fiscal years 2023 to 2025, amounts to 182,677,200 baht, divided into 25 work phases. The first 14 phases are scheduled over 420 days, and the remaining 11 phases over 750 days, with an expected completion date by February 2025. The contract was signed on February 10th, 2023, and is set to end on March 1st, 2025. The project scope includes seven construction components: 1) Renovation of the meeting room building, 2) Renovation of the office, reception room, and visitor registration point, 3) Renovation of the staff accommodation, 4) Exhibition and learning building, 5) Renovation of seven rectangular pavilions, 6) Nature trail construction spanning 1,785.2 meters, and 7) Main entrance bridge.
From the briefing by the responsible agencies, it was found that 71.5% of the construction work has been completed, with 44,253,551.70 baht remaining unspent. The work is proceeding on schedule and is expected to be completed ahead of time. The NACC inspector provided recommendations to the project leaders for further consideration, such as introducing entrance fees for the nature study tours to generate revenue for management and cleanliness maintenance. This is crucial because, in many tourist destinations, while the attraction draws visitors, the revenue collected is not sufficiently utilized for the maintenance of the resources. Some areas have experienced revenue leakage due to the lack of a strict revenue collection system, leading to deterioration and abandonment. This scenario highlights inefficient use of government funds.
Additionally, NACC Inspector Piset suggested enhancements to facilitate access for tourists, including the elderly and people with disabilities. He recommended constructing ramps following universal design principles to ensure that everyone can visit without health-related restrictions. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of safety for visitors engaging in nature studies by implementing appropriate security measures. It is crucial to monitor the use of construction materials to ensure they meet standards, are suitable for the environmental and climatic conditions, and are durable. The project is located in an area prone to the effects of salinity and sea waves, which can shorten the lifespan of construction materials. Therefore, selecting appropriate materials can extend their durability.
The NACC inspector stressed the need for the NACC Provincial Office in Trat to continuously monitor local projects to ensure the efficient use of government funds and to maintain transparency and public confidence, particularly in large projects involving significant budgets.
