The world-famous Maya Bay beach is welcoming tourists again: the bay, which gained international fame through the Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was previously closed for two months to allow its fragile ecosystem to recover from the onslaught of tourists.
Maya Bay on the paradise archipelago of Ko Phi Phi is closed annually from August 1 to September 30 – after opening, the National Park Authority asked guests of the bay to strictly observe all applicable rules
The white tropical beach, framed by striking rocks, was made famous by Danny Boyle’s 2000 hippie blockbuster ‘The Beach’. In the film starring DiCaprio, the beach is still completely unspoilt.
Corals damaged, waste piled up
But then crowds of tourists flocked to the bay on the otherwise uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh. Soon the paradise became an overcrowded nightmare: Every day dozens of boats dropped anchor in the once intact reef, the coral broke, the blacktip sharks disappeared and the trash piled up.
Bay managed to bounce back during the pandemic
In 2018, at the insistence of marine biologists, authorities pulled the cord. The beach was closed – and ultimately remained closed until early 2022 due to the corona pandemic. Since then, stricter rules have been in place, for example boats are no longer allowed into the bay. But the beach remains a tourist hotspot: from October 2023 to July 2024 alone, 1.6 million holidaymakers came again.
In addition to Maya Bay, two other bays are now regularly closed during the monsoon season: Loh Samah Bay and Lo Kor Bay. This year’s closure was particularly important as experts had already identified devastating coral bleaching at some of the region’s most beautiful snorkeling and diving sites in May.
Closure is also a safety issue
The closure in the rainy season is also about the safety of the guests: most of them come with traditional sloops from the neighboring island of Phi Phi Don. During storms and high waves it is difficult for the often old boats to moor in the bay of Loh Samah, from where holidaymakers now walk to Maya Bay.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
