They roamed the seas off the Andaman Coast for generations, but Thailand's sea gypsies say their traditional way of life is under threat and their homes at risk from a tourism boom. The plight of the once-nomadic hunter-gatherers highlights the growing pressures on marginalized indigenous people in a country seeing a surge in foreign visitors to a record 22 million people last year. The creation of protected marine parks, the depletion of fish stocks and a construction frenzy are all making it increasingly hard for the kingdom's "Chao Lay" sea people to maintain their age-old lifestyles.

Tourism threatens Thai sea gypsies. (2013, June 11). Manila Bulletin, p. B-8.