Department head Thanya Netithammakul said that given the influx of people to the parks during this period, he had instructed park chiefs nationwide to set up the centres as a safety measure.

Park rangers would be deployed at the centres around the clock, he said, with some of them trained in first aid.

Park chiefs were also instructed to ensure the parks don’t become overcrowded.

Thailand has 128 national parks, many of which are frequented by visitors as they offer pristine environments. They are especially popular during holiday periods. In the past overcrowding led to problems such as accidents.

Thanya said the department did not want visitors to bring alcohol into the parks, and people should bring their rubbish back home to dispose of to reduce the parks’ burden and the threat to wildlife, which in the past had eaten plastic bags and died.

The department has waived park entrance fees for New Year visitors until today.