One of the most popular beaches in the world, credit goes to Danny Boyle’s film ‘the beach’ being shot here, adapting Alex Garland’s bestselling novel. Nevertheless, this summer Maya Bay, on the Thai island of Koh Phi Phi Leh, will remain closed to the visitors as authorities try to overturn the damage caused for decade to the marine environment of the region.
From June till September, the region will remain closed for the visitors. This phase is considered as the island’s low season. To provide the coral reef time to recover, this measure has been taken. Though, similar steps have already been introduced on other Thai islands. In 2016, local authorities blocked Koh Tachai from visitor entry. It’s the first time tourists will be prohibited from entering Maya Bay.
Maya Bay attracts over 5,000 visitors on a single day, with majority of visitors travelling by boat from Phuket or Koh Phi Phi. A great deal of that tourism has got encourage by the Hollywood film ‘The Beach’. Released in the year 2000, Leonardo DiCaprio played the key role in the film. This film paradoxically narrates the story of a backpacker on his expedition to find the perfect and virgin beach.
Approximately 80% of the coral reefs of Thailand have got damaged, as per Thon Thamrongnawasawat, deputy dean of the faculty of fisheries at Kasetsart University in Bangkok. It was pointed out that the beachfront hotels, boat anchors and plastic wastes dumped here and there are the primary causes. Speaking to Deutsche Welle, Thamrongnawasawat explained that though provisional closures can assist to the degree, the “ideal solution” would be for the bay to be closed permanently.
Tags: Maya Bay Thailand
