Published on October 4, 2019
MAYA BAY ON THE WAY TO RECOVERY FROM OVERTOURISM
Maya Beach on the island of Koh Phi Phi Leh in Krabi province made famous by the 2000 Leonardo di Caprio movie, The Beach, is a classic example of a popular destination suffering from overtourism. For years, there were four to five thousands tourists pouring onto the beach each day till the government came to the rescue by closing the beach giving it an opportunity to recover from the environmental scars.
Thailand’s National Parks Department, Songtam Suksawang, recently confirmed that the bay will remain closed until June 2021 at the earliest.
Coral has now been replanted around Maya Bay and was apparently doing well until the recent hot spell, which led to some coral bleaching. It’s hoped the longer closure will allow it time to recover.
It’s understood that National Park authorities are also planning an expansion of visitor facilities, including a floating dock, environmentally friendly boardwalk, and new washrooms.
Plans are also afoot for an electronic ticketing system that will limit visitors to 1,200 a day, a significant decrease on the numbers visiting prior to the closure.[/caption]
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