Thai parks authority extends closure of Maya Bay indefinitely

[webfact]

Thai parks authority extends closure of Maya Bay indefinitely

 

Picture: Sanook

 

The four month closure of Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi has failed to restore the beach area as anticipated. 

 

So the national parks authority has issued a letter extending the closure of the bay.

 

No date was announced when it would be opened again to tourism - just that the area needs to recover before that will happen. 

 

The order refers to both Maya Bay and Lo Sama Bay in the Hat Nopparat Thara - Moo Koh Phi Phi national park, Krabi. 

 

The original order closing the bays after excessive tourism had caused damage was announced in May and effective from June 1st until the end of September. 

 

Studies have shown that the natural environment has not recovered sufficiently, reported Sanook. 

 

Some experts had said that four months was not sufficient to allow the area to recover, a situation now accepted by head of Thai national parks Thanya Netithammakun in his letter ordering the continued closure.

 

Source; Sanook

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-10-02

[fakename]

So did they really believe that four months would be enough for the coral to grow back? That just shows what kind of people are running things here. 

[connda]

Finally, someone is doing what is necessary to allow the coral to regrow instead of issuing ineffective short closures.  Shut it down until the area has recovered and then regulate tourism to that location. 

[Enoon]

6 hours ago, fakename said:

So did they really believe that four months would be enough for the coral to grow back? That just shows what kind of people are running things here. 

 

No, they thought that announcing a four month closure would soften the blow.

 

"Until further notice" was always the plan, but saying that at the outset would not have been acceptable to those who have been slowly choking the "Golden Goose".

 

Fait accompli,

a French phrase commonly used to describe an action which is completed before those affected by it are in a position to query or reverse it.

 

 

 

[snoop1130]

Bangkok officials declare Maya Bay a tourist no-go zone

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

The official notice signed by the DNP in Bangkok on Sept 28. Photo: DNP

 

PHUKET:-- Officials from the Department of National Parks (DNP) in Bangkok have declared Maya bay, including Loh Samah Bay, a tourist no-go zone until the marine environment improves to their satisfaction.

 

The announcement came in a letter from the DNP dated Sept 28 and posted on the Facebook page of Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Thaya Netithammakun yesterday (Oct 1)

 

Along with the photo was the message,, “This is the official notice from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The DNP official realises the terrible condition of the marine environment at Loh Samah Bay and Maya Bay. In view of this, tourism activities were to be banned in Maya Bayfrom June 1 to September 30.

 

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/bangkok-officials-declare-maya-bay-a-tourist-no-go-zone-68848.php#G55Y8Lr6GA7pxU0c.97

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-10-2

[overherebc]

2 years minimum sounds good for a start I would say.

[VBF]

Excellent news!

And, if it does reopen, FORCE the companies taking boatloads of idiots there to lodge a deposit which is used to police and repair any damage or as a fine to those not caring for the area.

A system of licencing the boat companies should also be considered - if there isn't one already?

AS an environmentally-aware SCUBA diver, I am appalled at the damage that greedy tourism is doing to the planet. 

Edited October 2, 2018 by VBF

[Ulic]

Great news, hopefully, it will be closed for another couple of years and then have restricted access. 

[webfact]

Maya Bay still off limits to tourists

By KORNRAWEE PANYASUPPAKUN 
THE NATION

 

File photo: Maya Bay

 

Tour operators fret over lost revenue as authorities seek proper rehabilitation.

 

TOUR OPERATORS cried foul yesterday and sought help from authorities after the famous tourist destination Maya Bay in southern Krabi province, off limits to tourists since June, continued to remain closed indefinitely to facilitate rehabilitation of corals.

 

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has extended closure of Maya Bay’s Had Nopparat Tara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park in Krabi without a clear schedule for when it will be reopened. 

 

The announcement was published on Monday in the Royal Gazette.

 

The current ecosystem has not completely recovered so the department will ban any tourism activities or any activities in Maya Bay from October 1 onwards until the marine and coastal ecosystem is back to its normal state, the department resolution said.

 

The order earlier this year had given the beach a four-month break from tourists – from June to September. 

 

The move was an attempt to save the battered coral reefs at the |sugary-white beach made famous by the 2000 Hollywood film “The Beach”, from the year-round tourist traffic. 

 

After the island closed its doors, the national park and wildlife authority started planting hundreds of corals in Maya Bay, and some have started growing branches, DNP director-general Jongklai Worapongsatorn said, adding a |baby shark was also spotted in the bay that was once filled with tour boats. 

 

However, despite some good news, the bay’s marine ecosystem remained very fragile and only 30 per cent had recovered, said director Songtham Suksawang of the department’s National Park Office. Prior to the closure, most of the corals in Maya Bay had died, crushed by boats and their anchors, he said. Also, the sand on the beach was disappearing under the weight of 5,000 tourists who visited the island daily, he added. 

 

Not everyone, however, is happy with the continued closure. 

 

Wattrapol Chanthararo, chairman of the Koh Phi Phi tourism business club, said the tourist ban on Maya Bay would affect their business as tourists had already booked travel packages. 

 

The ban was imposed without hearing their opinions, he said. They would meet to discuss the matter and hand over a letter to Krabi’s provincial governor.

 

He said a meeting of club members would be called on October 8 or 9 to discuss ways around the problems caused by the department’s latest announcement. Their conclusions would be forwarded to the Krabi governor and the related agencies.

 

Songtham said: “We understand tourism is a source of income for the community and the country, but if we continue to exploit the natural heritage until it is beyond recovery, tourism would completely end since no one would come anymore.

 

“Today the corals are growing steadily. If we open Maya Bay to tourists now, they will die and the lost marine ecosystem may take decades, not just years, to recover,” he warned.

 

The director pointed out that corals at Koh Yoong, a famous snorkelling site for example, had recovered well after tourism was banned for just two years. 

 

There are many other attractions in Krabi province and the nearby provinces such as Koh Poda, Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Hong, and Separated Sea (Thale Waek), Songtham suggested.

 

While Maya Bay is out of bounds to tourists, the DNP is drawing up a sustainable tourism plan. The boats would have to dock at floating piers at the back of the island, and the number of boats and tourists would be limited. 

 

In the near future, the tour boats would be visiting the island in allotted shifts and vacation-makers would need to make bookings before visiting Maya Bay. 

 

All these ideas are being studied by the authority and marine experts, Songtham revealed.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30355665

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-10-03

[Siameaze]

4 months will not allow a recovery. Hard reality is that there must be more time or the golden-egg goose will not be around 

[pjuk]

Agree great news.

When they reopen -

DO NOT ALLOW LANDING ON THE BEACH

DO NOT ALLOW BOATS TO DROP ANCHOR

DO NOT ALLOW SNORKLING

 

 

[connda]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Tour operators fret over lost revenue as authorities seek proper rehabilitation.

Too bad.  Keep it closed until the coral has completely regenerated then regulate and control access to the bay.
It would be nice to be able to dive and snorkel in Thai bays that actually have coral reefs.

 

[CLW]

TOUR OPERATORS cried foul yesterday and sought help from authorities

So sad that I am not a Thai national and allowed to participate in the travel business. Exploit something until it is completely destroyed and depleted and then ask the government for help.
They really live in a parallel Universum called Thailand...

If I were the government I would tell them the truth and nothing but the truth. That they didn't listen to the warnings and recommendations from the national park management so now it is their very own fault and problem that they do not have any income now.

[blackhorse]

Eventually when it does reopen hopefully they will have a plan in place to stop the rape going full circle again

[VBF]

8 minutes ago, CLW said:

TOUR OPERATORS cried foul yesterday and sought help from authorities

So sad that I am not a Thai national and allowed to participate in the travel business. Exploit something until it is completely destroyed and depleted and then ask the government for help.
They really live in a parallel Universum called Thailand...

If I were the government I would tell them the truth and nothing but the truth. That they didn't listen to the warnings and recommendations from the national park management so now it is their very own fault and problem that they do not have any income now.

@CLW and @blackhorse 

 

Sadly, your thoughts/suggestions would have / will require them to look beyond the end of their noses, or the next pay packet. Be so kind as to remember....TIT!

Edited October 3, 2018 by VBF

[blackhorse]

TOUR OPERATORS cried foul yesterday and sought help from authorities

So sad that I am not a Thai national and allowed to participate in the travel business. Exploit something until it is completely destroyed and depleted and then ask the government for help.
They really live in a parallel Universum called Thailand...

If I were the government I would tell them the truth and nothing but the truth. That they didn't listen to the warnings and recommendations from the national park management so now it is their very own fault and problem that they do not have any income now.

They can go back to their farms. Always work needed there

[CLW]

They can go back to their farms. Always work needed there

Too hard work for Thais. Only suitable for Myanmar or Cambodian labor.

[hanssna]

A wise decision to keep it closed for a while longer, at least until much more of the corals have recovered, and if the government can not control the situation / limit of visitors afterwards, it should remain closed. 

[Sp4wnY]

Just educate tourists about not touching the corals and keep the aliens that can not understand out ????  

Or is this due to global warming and the tourists did not damage it? Or is it because of the boats?

[worgeordie]

Say 10 years for it to look decent again,without any tourists,

reopen ,destroyed again in a few weeks,by tourists.

regards worgeordie

[KiChakayan]

On 10/3/2018 at 3:34 PM, VBF said:

@CLW and @blackhorse 

 

Sadly, your thoughts/suggestions would have / will require them to look beyond the end of their noses, or the next pay packet. Be so kind as to remember....TIT!

They best way to know what to do would be to contact these people: http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/managing-the-reef/how-the-reefs-managed. They are the best in world compare to them the level of knowledge of the Thai authorities must be close to zero.