Rather than enlarging the park system, they urge improvement of the existing parks. The supporters of the present park programme counter with the argument of urgency. With forest cover reduced to 25 percent of land area, compared to 58 percent only 25 years ago, they contend that the speed of deforestation and the pressure of a growing population mean that territory for parks is urgently required while land is still available. A central issue in the park debate is how to improve management standards. It is generally recognized that increase in staff is not a certain cure, but that the support of villagers is a requisite for effective conservation in rural areas.
Tourism is an almost untapped source of park revenue.
Although Thailand receives 1.8 million tourists a year, the average visitor stays only five days in the country, which is scarcely enough time to see the national parks. With the proper incentives, it is hoped that foreign visitors will begin to explore Thailand's natural heritage. A recent FAO report proposes a review of Thailand's protected areas in order to develop a comprehensive system. A major recommendation calls for the integration of the existing wildlife sanctuaries into the national park system and the creation of a graduated scale of parks and reserves. The result will be a network of 196 protected areas covering 4 percent of the total land area of Indonesia.