Maya Bay where they filmed “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio has reopened

[ASEAN NOW News]

Maya Bay

 

A Thai bay that was made famous by its appearance in the film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio has been reopened after more than three years.

 

Maya Bay, on the island of Phi Phi Leh, was closed in 2018 after officials said a sharp rise in visitors eager to see where the movie was shot, had severely damaged the environment.

 

However, after the three years break officials felt that the ecosystem had had time to recover, and now small numbers of tourists are being allowed back.

 

A maximum of just 375 visitors will be able to visit the bay at a time and swimming will be prohibited for now, officials say.

 

"The sharks have come back, coral reefs are regrowing, and the water is clear again," Yuthasak Supasorn, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, told the media.

 

"These things show that nature will heal if we give it time, and we have to work to keep it that way too."

 

Boats are being monitored and will only be permitted to dock at a specific location to avoid damaging coral reefs, officials have said.

 

The beach featured prominently in the 2000 film of that name, and tourism saw a sharp uptick in the following years.

 

In 2008, there were around 170 people visiting per day. But by 2018 the number had grown to around 5,000 and most of its coral died as a result.

 

 

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-01-05

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[Blumpie]

And Leonardo DiCaprio is getting old and fat.  Like all of us.

[RandiRona]

DiCaprio has moved on long back!!  #Dontlookup

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

"These things show that nature will heal if we give it time, and we have to work to keep it that way too."

Until blinded by profit again.

[KhunLA]

Never understood the take a 'boat from an island, to an island' unless for privacy, which, since bring a boatload with you, defeats that purpose.  375 there, isn't very private.

 

NO swimming .... what's the point.????

[zzaa09]

Another natural wonder deemed for destruction. 

Well done.

[SpaceKadet]

A sad day in Thai eco history. Greed has no bounds here.

How long before the customary food stalls take residence along the beach?

[overherebc]

25 minutes ago, SpaceKadet said:

A sad day in Thai eco history. Greed has no bounds here.

How long before the customary food stalls take residence along the beach?

Depends who owns them.

[SpaceKadet]

Well, the good thing is that the blacktips are back. So definitely no one will be in the water. Chinese are notoriously <deleted> scared of sharks. But, given time, they probably scare the sharks away again.

 

Funny enough, back in 1997 I was sailing there, we moored the boat at the entrance of Maya Bay and swam to the beach. This was after the last tourist longtail has left. We were all alone, but I didn't see any blacktips at that time. Let's just hope that they'll stay.

[jak2002003]

24 minutes ago, SpaceKadet said:

Well, the good thing is that the blacktips are back. So definitely no one will be in the water. Chinese are notoriously <deleted> scared of sharks. But, given time, they probably scare the sharks away again.

 

Funny enough, back in 1997 I was sailing there, we moored the boat at the entrance of Maya Bay and swam to the beach. This was after the last tourist longtail has left. We were all alone, but I didn't see any blacktips at that time. Let's just hope that they'll stay.

The sharks will be gone if they let the package tour Chinese back there. Either the sharks will choke to death on the plastic rubbish the tourists throw into the sea or they will be served up as shark fin soup in the restaurant for them. 

 

 

[radiochaser]

On 1/4/2022 at 6:30 PM, Blumpie said:

And Leonardo DiCaprio is getting old and fat.  Like all of us.

I'm not getting fat.  
Old and ugly perhaps, but not fat!  ????

 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2022 by radiochaser

[jacko45k]

8 hours ago, radiochaser said:

I'm not getting fat.  
Old and ugly perhaps, but not fat!  ????

 

 

 

2 out of 3 ain't bad.... but stay off The Meatloaf.