It is one of Thailand’s most famous beaches and had a starring role in one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s most memorable movies.
But authorities in Thailand are to temporarily close Maya Bay on the tiny Ko Phi Phi island – saying excessive tourist numbers has damaged the coral reef.
They hope that banning visitors from the beach in the low season between June and September will allow enough time for the coral to recover.
Maya Bay beach on the tiny Ko Phi Phi island in Thailand. Tourists are now banned from visiting from June to September
The coral around the beach is becoming damaged due to extensive tourism and it is hoped the closure will allow the coral to recover
Maya Bay is one of the most famous beaches in Thailand. Other beaches and islands have also been temporarily closed to tourists for environmental reasons
The movie The Beach was released in 2000 and starred DiCaprio as a young American traveller seeking adventure in Thailand.
Maya Bay provided the backdrop to the box office smash hit and it prompted tourists to flock to Thailand to see the beach for themselves.
Now it’s estimated that up to 5,000 tourists a day take boats from the nearby islands of Phuket and Krabi to soak up the sun on the stunning shoreline.
But environmental experts are warning that closing Maya Bay for three months might not be enough.
Marine expert Thon Thamrongnawasawat, from Bangkok’s Kasetsart University, told Traveller.com: ‘An ideal solution is a permanent closure, which is not possible due to our reliance on tourism revenue.’
It is estimated that up to 5,000 tourists a day take boats from the nearby islands of Phuket and Krabi to soak up the sun on the stunning shoreline of Maya Bay
Tourists stroll along the white sandy beach, take a dip in the water and snap pictures of the rock formations at Maya Bay
Tourism in Thailand has exploded in recent years and in 2018 the country expects to welcome a record 37.5 million tourists.
And Thai authorities have closed other beaches in the past in a bid to protect coral reefs.
In 2016, the country’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) issued a ban for the islands of Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nui and Koh Khai Nai.
All tourist activity was banned around the coral reefs near the three islands, which are off the east coast of Phuket.
Maya Bay’s popularity exploded after it provided the backdrop to the 2000 film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio, pictured
DiCaprio wades in the water of Maya Bay during a scene in the movie The Beach. In the film he plays a young American traveller seeking adventure in Thailand
This included the removal of facilities and structures built for tourists, including beach chairs and parasols, as well as the closure of shops and restaurants on the islands.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Thailand’s environment ministry announced that it was banning smoking and litter-dropping at 24 beachside locations that are popular with tourists.
The beaches protected, by the law, span 15 provinces located along the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand.
Anyone who violates the new law will be taken to a criminal court and could face up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $3,190 (£2,300) – or both.