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Thailand: bay made famous by The Beach closed indefinitely Thailand: bay made famous by The Beach closed indefinitely
(about 3 hours later)
The Thai bay that features in the movie The Beach will be closed indefinitely to allow it to recover from the impact of hordes of tourists. One of the world’s most popular beaches, made famous by the 2000 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is to be closed indefinitely to allow it to recover from the damage caused by millions of tourists.
Maya Bay, ringed by cliffs on Ko Phi Phi Ley island, was made famous when it was used in the 2000 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The golden sands and crystal blues water of Maya Bay, ringed by cliffs on Ko Phi Phi Ley island, have become one of Thailand’s most visited tourist destinations since it shot to fame as the location of the 2000 film The Beach.
It was initially shut for four months earlier this year due to beach erosion and pollution resulting from thousands of day-trippers arriving by boat. However, the small beach has suffered extensive environmental damage in recent years, receiving up to 5,000 tourists and 200 boats a day.
But a survey of the problem during the temporary ban made clear that the short-term fix was not going to work and that the damage was worse than originally thought. Thai authorities announced they would be temporarily be closing the bay from 1 June, but have now extended the planned four-month closure to at least a year, due to the extent of the destruction caused by the thousands of day trippers. Thanks to pollution from litter, boats and suncream, it is estimated over 80% of the coral around Maya Bay has now been destroyed.
“We have evaluated each month and found out that the ecological system was seriously destroyed from tourism of up to 5,000 people daily,” said Songtam Suksawang, director of the National Parks office.“We have evaluated each month and found out that the ecological system was seriously destroyed from tourism of up to 5,000 people daily,” said Songtam Suksawang, director of the National Parks office.
“It’s very difficult to remedy and rehabilitate because its beach was completely destroyed as well the plants which cover it,” he said, adding it was “impossible” for recovery to occur in the allotted time.“It’s very difficult to remedy and rehabilitate because its beach was completely destroyed as well the plants which cover it,” he said, adding it was “impossible” for recovery to occur in the allotted time.
Thailand’s department of national parks, wildlife and plant conservation announced the indefinite closure in a royal gazette published on 1 October. Despite evidence of the mounting damage to Maya Bay, for years Thai authorities had been reluctant to shut the bay as it generates around 400 million baht (£10m) in revenue every year.
It said that the restrictions on tourism would not be lifted until the ecosystem “fully recovers to a normal situation”. However, a royal gazette published on 1 October by Thailand’s department of national parks, wildlife and plant conservation announced the restrictions on tourism would not be lifted until the ecosystem “fully recovers to a normal situation”.
Besides beach erosion, heavy traffic around the azure waters can also damage sensitive coral reefs, already vulnerable to rising sea temperatures and climate change. The news will come as a relief to local environmental campaigners who had said a four-month closure was not nearly enough. Coral only grows around half a centimetre a year, so it will take years for the reef to be fully restores.
The Maya Bay park chief, Worapoj Lomlim, said the parks agency and others had already rehabilitated coral reefs in the bay by planting more than 1,000 corals, and would keep expanding the project.
Countries across the region from the Philippines to Indonesia are waking up to the problems that can be caused by excessive tourism.Countries across the region from the Philippines to Indonesia are waking up to the problems that can be caused by excessive tourism.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte announced in April a six-month closure of the popular Boracay beach resort, calling the destination a “cesspool”. The Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, announced in April a six-month closure of the popular Boracay beach resort, calling the destination a “cesspool”.
And Indonesia declared a “garbage emergency” last year along a stretch of the resort island of Bali, after coastal pollution was highlighted in a viral video that showed a diver swimming through waters full of trash. And Indonesia declared a “garbage emergency” last year along a stretch of the resort island of Bali, after coastal pollution was highlighted in a viral video that showed a diver swimming through waters full of rubbish.
ThailandThailand
Leonardo DiCaprioLeonardo DiCaprio
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