Mr Suchart visited Sirinat National Park in Sakhu on Sunday (June 7) to inspect park management efforts and follow up on legal action against land encroachment cases. He was joined by senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), and the Royal Forest Department.
Speaking during the visit at Nai Yang Beach, Mr Suchart said all areas found to have been illegally encroached upon within the national park had now been seized and were undergoing legal proceedings.
He acknowledged that some land buyers may have been misled into purchasing plots backed by unlawfully issued title documents.
"People were deceived into buying land without knowing that the land title documents were illegal," Mr Suchart said.
"However, everything must be based on the law. We are in Thailand and we must respect Thai law. In the end, those who encroach on forests, beaches and coastlines will be left with nothing because these are national assets that we must reclaim for public use."
The minister also addressed concerns surrounding beachfront businesses at Bang Tao Beach, where authorities have recently intensified scrutiny of operators occupying public land and protected areas.
Mr Suchart said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had expressed concern over the issue and had instructed the Royal Forest Department and the DNP to convene an urgent meeting today (June 8) to seek a solution that balances environmental protection with the livelihoods of local residents.
The visit also focused on efforts to address Phuket’s worsening traffic congestion through the development of a marine transport network.
Mr Suchart said the Prime Minister had assigned the ministry, particularly the DNP, to survey suitable locations within Sirinat National Park for floating piers that could support a proposed boat taxi service.
The project would allow visitors to travel between major tourism areas by sea, including direct connections between Patong and the airport area, reducing reliance on Phuket’s congested road network.
Mr Suchart said Sirinat National Park possessed significant potential as an international tourism destination but had not received sufficient attention in that regard in the past.
He said the proposed boat taxi service would help disperse tourists more efficiently while giving visitors greater opportunities to experience the natural attractions of the national park.
The minister is scheduled to return to Sirinat National Park today (June 8), where he will meet with park officials, review ongoing forest encroachment cases and inspect coastal areas affected by erosion.
The visit will also include discussions on long-term measures to prevent coastal degradation and restore marine ecosystems within the park.
The minister’s comments come amid ongoing efforts by authorities to tackle illegal occupation of protected land across Phuket, particularly in coastal areas where disputes over land ownership and business operations have intensified in recent months, namely at Bang Tao and Freedom Beach.