“The Beach” – Leonardo DiCaprio’s dream beach is closed again

Of course, it wasn’t DiCaprio’s intention. But with his dropout drama “The Beach,” released in theaters in 2000, he created an overnight worldwide visitor hype that the uninhabited tropical island near Phuket couldn’t resist for long.

Crowds of tourists storm ‘The Beach’
Just like in the Hollywood blockbuster, the picturesque bay actually looks like a hidden Garden of Eden: powder-white sand, sparkling turquoise water. The jungle stretches down to the beach, which is surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs. The dream bay is difficult to see from the sea. The perfect film location for director Danny Boyle, in whose film a group of hippie dropouts led by Leonardo DiCaprio live in a beach paradise isolated from civilization.

But since the success of the film, Maya Bay has been overrun by holidaymakers and is on the to-do list of almost all travellers to Thailand. Up to 6,000 tourists were brought to the remote bay by speedboat every day from the inhabited neighbouring island of Phi Phi Don and even from Phuket. A selfie on the dream beach, known for years as “DiCaprio” Beach, should be on the “bucket list” in the south of Thailand.

Sharks and turtles fled
The consequences were devastating: the anchors of the countless tour boats and the masses of bathing holidaymakers destroyed the reef and the corals. The blacktip sharks that raised their young in the shallow bay disappeared, as did the sea turtles. The rubbish piled up on the beach, while the sand became less and less. Almost everyone took original sand from “The Beach” in empty water bottles.

At the urging of renowned marine biologists, authorities finally pulled the cord and closed Maya Bay to visitors in June 2018. Then the corona pandemic broke out. It wasn’t until January 2022 that the bay reopened to holidaymakers – but under strict conditions: swimming and snorkelling are strictly prohibited. Visitors are only allowed to enter the water up to their knees. Rangers patrol the beach. Time and again, they whistle holidaymakers out of the water who go further into the water than allowed, so as not to have other tourists in the selfie. Anyone who leaves rubbish behind or takes sand or shells risks heavy fines. Feeding fish is prohibited. Also take disposable packaging with you.

Boats are no longer allowed to dock
Boats are no longer allowed to dock in the bay. Tourists are now unloaded on the other side of the island at a floating pier, where they pay an entrance fee and have to walk a few hundred meters through the jungle along a wooden walkway to Maya Bay. And every year during the rainy season between August and the end of September, the bay remains completely closed to allow nature to recover.

Unfortunately, this is necessary because despite all the new etiquette rules, the impact on the environment is still high. The reason: “Visitors come from various neighboring islands without registering. “There is no control system developed to really limit the number of tourists per day,” regrets Peera Boonsang, director of the SAii Phi Phi Village Resort on the main island of Ko Phi Phi Don.

Limit to 4000 visitors
When Maya Bay reopened two years ago, it was initially limited to 375 visitors per day. Then it was per hour. Eventually, the “limit” was set at 4,000 people per day – perhaps the 15 million or so euros from annual visitor tickets are more important than the coral and shark populations.

Thailand lives on tourism. Also the Phi Phi Islands in the Andaman Sea. “But we need sustainable tourism,” says Boonsang. Not only for ethical reasons. It is also about business. Because the paradisiacal nature is one of the main reasons why tourists visit the islands.

Thailand is making increasing efforts to protect the environment
Like the SAii Resort, more and more hotel complexes in the Phi Phi archipelago are committed to protecting not only the tourist magnet Maya Bay, but also the other islands in the 390 square kilometer marine national park. “In addition to sustainable water, electricity and waste management, we regularly clean beaches, plant mangroves and raise awareness among our guests about the fragile ecosystem through our Marine Discover Center,” explains Wanlob Hasalem, hotel manager at SAii Phi Phi Village Resorts.

Video: The trailer of the cult film “The Beach” (2000)

The hotel’s marine centre breeds clownfish and cares for bamboo sharks accidentally caught by fishermen before releasing them back into the wild. The Discovery Centre’s dive centre also helped reforest the destroyed corals in Maya Bay. Mu Koh Phi Phi Marine National Park is particularly renowned for its incredible diversity of coral reefs and is considered an important sanctuary for many endangered shark and turtle species.

Relaxation breaks for nature
“The reef is back in good shape. Even the blacktip sharks and green turtles have returned to Maya Bay,” explains dive guide Paisan Pradsnphan. Above all, the pause for nature during the corona pandemic with global travel restrictions was good for the underwater world. Now he hopes that the balancing act between tourism and environmental protection can be achieved.

But the view from the submarine to Maya Bay, where hordes of tourists can once again be seen on DiCaprio Beach, raises doubts. Adrian Sidler, however, is confident. “I was here ten years ago. The whole bay was full of party boats and the beach was completely overcrowded. I think they can do it here,” says the 30-year-old Swiss. It is okay that you are no longer allowed to swim. “You can always take pictures like you did in Leonardo DiCaprio’s time,” jokes the holidaymaker from the Swiss train.