CGTN published this video item, entitled “Pandemic respite for Thai ‘sea gypsies’ threatened by mass tourism” – below is their description.
These are the “sea gypsies” also known as Thailand’s Chao Lay, or people of the sea. As the pandemic slams tourism, it has brought the locals respite from the crowds of visitors. Nine million people visited Phuket in 2019 alone. Fish stocks are up and real estate projects on ancestral land have been halted. But there are small victories. The Chao Lay have unique gifts and traditions. Some of their children can see 50 percent better underwater than normal. Over 1,200 Chao Lay people live on a coastal strip eyed by developers. The Chao Lay fear they could be evicted. But the government is trying to help prove their long-term links to the land. For more: https://www.cgtn.com/video
CGTN YouTube Channel
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