PHI PHI ISLAND VILLAGE BEACH RESORT OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES MARINE DISCOVERY CENTRE WITH SINGHA ESTATE PLC & COMMITS TO RESTORATION OF ICONIC MAYA BAY

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand – In line with its corporate philosophy of “harmonious co-existence”, Singha Estate Public Company Limited, which also owns S Hotels & Resorts, officially opened a Marine Discovery Centre at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort in May to raise awareness and educate visitors, locals and stakeholders about the importance of marine biodiversity and conservation.

The company is also collaborating closely with National Park officials, local communities and the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University to rehabilitate the reef and protect marine life in Maya Bay, one of the most famous beaches in Thailand and a must-see attraction for guests at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort.

“We are committed to the conservation of natural resources such as the marine ecosystem, and over the last few years Singha Estate has taken an active part in sustainable development projects to catalyze the prototype “Phi Phi Set to Change” program, aiming at recovering, restoring, and managing the natural assets of the world renowned destination of Phi Phi Island,” said Mr. Naris Cheyklin, Chief Executive Officer, Singha Estate Public Company Limited.

The Marine Discovery Centre houses 4 zones – the Shark Room, the Phi Phi Islands Room, the Clownfish Room, and the Auditorium – and offers visitors colourful, interactive displays explaining the life cycles and habits of the unique marine species endemic to the region. The new environmental attraction will also be a base for the re-introduction of clownfish better known as “nemos”, as well as breeding harmless bamboo sharks and replanting coral reefs.

“In support of the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals to conserve and sustainably use oceans and marine resources, Singha Estate will spread the message about the importance of conserving life below water,” said Mr. Dirk De Cuyper, Chief Hospitality Officer, S Hotels & Resorts.

Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University, played a central role in driving the wider “Phi Phi Model”, which includes a national coral reef restoration plan that aims to reduce the amount of damaged coral reefs to less than 50 percent in five years.

Kasetsart University is collaborating with private organizations to monitor the coral reefs around Yoong Island and the other Phi Phi Islands. Aerial photographs taken by Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) will be analyzed and new images taken every four months over a period of one year to measure the growth of the coral reefs. In tandem, corals will also be propagated in Maya Bay while it is closed to visitors for rehabilitation.

Based on the “Phi Phi Model” Singha Estate also plans to make environmental preservation, protection and the restoration of marine ecosystems a central feature of its new mega-project, Crossroads, in the Maldives. The multi-island development will feature a marine conservation center, a coral laboratory to study, grow, and reintroduce corals. The Crossroads project will also house one of the world’s largest coral reef nurseries covering a planned area of 62,000 square meters.

Visit the Marine Discovery Centre online.