Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley, closed last June to allow coral
restoration and beach recovery, will now remain closed to visitors for
at least another two years.
Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, assistant dean of the Faculty of Fisheries
at Kasetsart University and a renowned marine specialist says, “The
meeting yesterday concluded that Maya Bay is to be closed for two more
years as the natural environment needs more time to recover.”
Maya Bay’s extended closure will keep the wraps on one of southern
Thailand’s most popular tourist attractions. The closure is a blow to
Koh Phi Phi tourism but despite protests from tour operators the
National Park chiefs have been resolute to plan a more controlled
tourist interface in the future. There are already plans in place to
limit tour boats visiting the beach whenever it reopens.
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At its peak there were 5,000+ tourists visiting the secluded bay, made famous in the 2000 Hollywood film ‘The Beach’, every day.
Read more about recent extensions to the closure HERE.
