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One of the most popular beaches in the world, made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, must be closed indefinitely to allow it to recover from the damage caused by millions of tourists.
The golden beaches and crystal clear waters of Maya Bay, encircled by cliffs on Ko Phi Phi Leh Island, have become one of Thailand's most visited tourist destinations since its stardom as a filming location. of the film.
The small beach has suffered significant environmental damage in recent years, hosting up to 5,000 tourists and 200 boats a day.
The Thai authorities have announced that they will temporarily close the bay as of June 1, but have now extended the planned closure from four months to at least a year, due to the magnitude of the destruction caused by the thousands. d & # 39; trippers.
With pollution from litter, boats and sunscreen, it is estimated that more than 80% of the corals around Maya Bay have been destroyed.
Songtam Suksawang, director of the National Parks Department, said: "We evaluated each month and discovered that the ecological system was seriously destroyed by tourism by 5,000 people a day.
"It's very difficult to remedy and rehabilitate the situation, because its beach has been completely destroyed, as well as the plants that cover it," he said, adding that he was " impossible 'to recover within the time allowed.
Despite evidence of increasing damage to Maya Bay, the Thai authorities have been reluctant for years to close it, as the site generates about 400 million baht (9.5 million pounds sterling) of revenue annually.
However, a royal newspaper published Oct. 1 by the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife Conservation and Plants, announced that restrictions on tourism would not be lifted until the ecosystem is "back again" normal".
This news will relieve local environmentalists, who said that a four-month shutdown was not enough. As the coral grows only half a centimeter a year, it will take years for the reef to be completely restored.
Maya Bay Park Chief, Worapoj Lomlim, said that the Parks and Others Agency had already rehabilitated the coral reefs of the bay by planting more than 1,000 corals, and would continue to work. extend the project.
Countries in the region from the Philippines to Indonesia are realizing the problems that can be caused by excessive tourism.
In April, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced the closure of the seaside resort of Boracay for a six-month period, calling the destination a "cloaca with bells".
Indonesia declared a "waste emergency" last year on a stretch of the island of Bali, after coastal pollution was highlighted in a viral video showing a diver swimming in a water full of waste.
