Thai PM worried about beach pollution after seeing floating underwear
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's prime minister is worried about pollution at the country's famed beaches after seeing underpants floating in a bay during a visit to a southern resort, a newspaper said Tuesday.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra singled out Pai Bay in the Phi Phi islands as an example of how serious the problem is, The Nation newspaper said quoting Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti.
"The premier said he found underpants floating all around during his recent visit,'' Suwit was quoted as saying.
Suwit did not say if Thaksin also saw other kinds of garbage in the water or how underpants showed up in the bay, which is popular among swimmers for its calm waters.
Thailand's beaches, known for their powdery white sands, on its southeastern coast and islands are among the primary attraction for the 10 million tourists who visit the country each year.
The government is hoping tourist arrivals this year will go up to 12 million despite the bird flu scare in Asia, and the ongoing Muslim insurgency in Thailand's deep south, which is about 500 kilometers (300 miles) away from the beaches of Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta and others. - AP
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