Krabi tourism operators appeal indefinite closure of Maya Bay

By Sitthichai Sikhawat 
The Nation

 

This undated handout photo distributed by the Thai National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department on October 3, 2018 shows the beach on Maya Bay closed to visitors on the southern Thai island of Koh Phi Phi. // AFP PHOTO

 

Krabi Tourism Association president Wattana Rerngsamut is appealing the indefinite closure of popular destinations Maya Bay and nearby Loh Samah Bay in an order made on Tuesday by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

 

The move would severely affect the tourism businesses in Koh Phi Phi and Krabi province as a whole, said Wattana. 

 

The tourist destinations are located within Had Nopparat Tara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park. 

 

Wattana said the park lacked clarity in its management of the tourist attractions.

 

Of the targeted six million visitors to Krabi, 80-90 per cent aimed to visit Maya Bay and Koh Phi Phi, he said, so barring access would cause a long-term impact to the tourism and the economy in general.

 

Maya Bay – made famous by the 2000 Hollywood film “The Beach” – has suffered serious damage from year-round tourist traffic and was closed to tourists for four months starting in June to allow its coral reefs to recover. But the regeneration did not meet targets and the closure was extended to November 1.

 

Then an announcement published in the Royal Gazette on October 1 declared the park would remain closed until the marine and coastal ecosystem returned to its normal state.

 

Wattana said the four-month break was understandable, but unexpectedly extending it to November 1 had put tourism businesses into difficulty.

 

When the park then declared the indefinite closure, Wattana said, many tourists scheduled to visit after November 1 were disappointed and some had cancelled their tour bookings.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30355731

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-10-3

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

declared the park would remain closed until the marine and coastal ecosystem returned to its normal state.

so it will not be opening again.

9 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

so it will not be opening again.

Probably will but only to expensive an exclusive tours

Let people cry for their lost money. Nature is precious and even the fact that people let the fragile ecosystems in peace and quiet for a while is almost a Miracle! Maya bay has been exploited for 18 years it’s time for a change. 

It's all about me, me me and my income today. Who cares about the long term effect of mass tourism to a delicate place?

11 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

so it will not be opening again.

Next week $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

In regard of their latest road carnages, the Krabi administration should consider to close their roads too. For good!

It's a brave decision, if you ask me, and to be applauded. 

 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Of the targeted six million visitors to Krabi, 80-90 per cent aimed to visit Maya Bay

That's 4-5 million visitors. There's no eco-attraction can survive that kind of exposure.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Krabi Tourism Association president Wattana Rerngsamut is appealing the indefinite closure of popular destinations Maya Bay and nearby Loh Samah Bay

 

Say you bring in the bulldozers and reduce land-based 'tourist attractions' to rubble and then you get the tour operators and tourists hammers to finish the job.

That's what you have in Maya Bay.  Like a land-based historical sites, you can't reconstruct if the tour operators and tourists are chipping away at the foundations while you're attempting to rebuild. 

12 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

so it will not be opening again.

Let us hope that you are correct. All too often we see that ‘money’ is the driving force here and elsewhere. I applaud the authorities in making his bold and right decision by thinking ahead. 

Great decision. Hope they stick with it and don't bow to pressure from commercial interests.

You fear for the other sites now that Maya Bay will stay closed. Those ‘4 island tours’ need to find somewhere to deposit their tourists.

A 3-5 year closure should see it recover nicely. 

To the Krabi Tourist Association you killed the goose that laid the golden egg now you want a shoulder to cry on. Go on pick up your bat and ball and go home and stay there then find a new job better suited to your lazy couldn't give two f---s lifestyle