Clean up Lanta

Kho Lanta, Thailand

The Lonely Planet Southeast Asia writes that on Kho Lanta you can "slip into a beachy existence". They fail to mention that what you slip on is almost obscene amounts of rubbish, ranging from plastic bottles and cups and miscellaneous packaging over discarded slippers and tooth brushes and actually dangerous things like broken glass. It's actually quite sad to see picturesque beaches being despoilt in such a way. I do believe that tourists have a hand in this, leaving their water bottles wherever they were lying. But many packaging suggest items that tourists would have no use for, which in turn suggests that some locals still don't appreciate the beauty of their country and use the beach as a rubbish tip. And that's what it looks like in many places. Even though tourism depends on it. Resorts only clean up within their little sphere of influence. Only in the south of the island where few people live the situation gets better. I think, apart from environmental and purely aesthetic implications people need to understand the business ones, as well. Tourists won't like relaxing on a beach full of rubbish. Maybe that would be a good opportunity to volunteer - but I've thought that so many times already, almost from the very start of my trip. I hope, that people will come to their senses in time to save these beautiful places if not for the sake of saving them then at least to ensure tourists will continue to come here to enjoy them. It would be a real shame to see this island get swamped by waste.