Koh Pha Nagn district office yesterday (April 5) officially announced the ban which affects the entire Surat Thani island immediately.
District chief Kriak-krai Songthani said the ban followed complaints by island residents about noisy parties which disturbed their way of life.
The noise pollution problem had reached the ears of provincial governor Chatpong Chatput and he ordered officials at all levels, from the district office down to village chiefs, to sort it out by April 3, Mr Kriak-krai said.
A meeting subsequently decided unanimously to ban all parties across the island except for the full moon party.
"The Surat Thani governor on March 25 ordered Koh Pha Ngan district to put up an announcement on the ban for party organisers and others until organisers can find a way to solve the problems. Violators will face legal action," the district chief said.
The full moon party is held on Haad Rin every full moon night. It has become a trademark for the island, but is also notorious among foreign and local visitors for drugs.
In December the Tourism and Sports Ministry decided to rebrand the island's image from that of a full moon party destination.
Wannee Thaipanich, president of the Koh Pha Ngan Tourism Promotion Association, welcomed the decision to ban other parties which caused trouble for local people on the island.
The full moon party was a principle event that drew foreign and local tourists to Koh Pha Ngan. Tourism on the island generated about B7 billion a year for the country, according to Mrs Wannee.
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