Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang Cave to be Re-Opened to Tourists this Weekend

CHIANG RAI – Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Non cave complex in Mae Sai, the scene of a rescue drama that grabbed worldwide attention four months ago, is expected to be reopened to tourists this weekend.

An informed source said that officials of the Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Non forest park where the cave complex is located had been briefed of the safety measures and had inspected the five bases in the camp which were used by Thai and foreign rescuers in their operation to pluck the 13 Wild Boar boys and their football coach out of the flooded cave.

The five bases are part of the learning station to be opened to tourists so they learn about the experiences of the rescue operations from visits of the bases, inspection of the cave complex and trial stay in the dark cave.

The five bases include the command center, the operational base of members of the Thai navy SEAL team, the spot where the boys left their bicycles to go into the cave and eventually got trapped due to flooding.

The cave is expected to accommodate between 500-700 visitors a day in different groups. Each round of the guided tour will take 1 hour and 30 minutes with park officials and locals serving as guides.

Community leaders and local academics have suggested that other cave complexes in Mae Sai district of the northern province of Chiang Rai should also incorporated into a package cave tour so tourists will spend longer time in the district and, probably, stay an overnight which will benefit local people and not just visiting Tham Luang cave and then returning to Chiang Rai provincial seat.

Photos Courtesy of Localnews2010.com