webfact Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Maya Bay, Thailand: The paradise cove from movie The Beach is closing due to overtourism Oliver Smith File photo Maya Bay in Thailand, a strong contender for the world's most celebrated beach, will be closed to tourists for at least three months this year in a bid to reverse damage caused to the surrounding coral reef. The idyllic cove that starred in The Beach, Danny Boyle's adaptation of Alex Garland's novel about the search for untouched backpacker paradise, has long been the victim of its own fame. The film encouraged waves of tourists to visit the once little-known Phi Phi Islands, where Maya Bay is located, and the sheltered strip of sand is now a far cry from the unspoiled utopia depicted on the big screen. As many as 5000 people arrive each day on boat trips from the bustling mainland resorts of Krabi and Phuket, but fears about damage to the local reefs are finally spurring local authorities into action and tourists will be prevented from visiting for three months during the summer low season to let the corals recover. Full story: http://www.traveller.com.au/maya-bay-thailand-the-paradise-cove-from-movie-the-beach-is-closing-due-to-overtourism-h0vzw8 -- Traveller 2018-02-13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotMahKid Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 In 3 month time nature can't repair itself, close these kind of places totally for mass tourism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornishcarlos Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 1 minute ago, RotMahKid said: In 3 month time nature can't repair itself, close these kind of places totally for mass tourism. It's better than nothing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thian Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Or just block the bay for boats and don't allow anybody to swim....they can only look and make pics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thechook Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 It will take decades not months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enoon Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 "Yeah, we were there......yeah the one from the film.......yeah awesome, shame about the crowds though.......yeah you gotta go" Everyone goes, but it's always "the crowds" who spoil it.......never them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enoon Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 5 hours ago, RotMahKid said: In 3 month time nature can't repair itself, close these kind of places totally for mass tourism. Band-Aid on a broken limb. STP (Standard Thai Procedure) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisY1 Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 There aren't too many spots in Thailand where coral grows well now.....most places I've seen, the reefs are dead. It takes years, not 3 months, to achieve any sort of substantial recovery....and of course, pollution needs to stop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denim Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 7 hours ago, cornishcarlos said: It's better than nothing... Unfortunately it's pretty much the same as nothing. There needs to be some kind of control on numbers at these places. However, the problem is that a reduction in numbers will mean a loss of revenue . Which leaves the only viable option as a big hike in the cost of visiting them. This will hopefully have the effect of reducing the numbers to just the wealthy and those who want to go bad enough at any price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denim Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 2 hours ago, Enoon said: "Yeah, we were there......yeah the one from the film.......yeah awesome, shame about the crowds though.......yeah you gotta go" Everyone goes, but it's always "the crowds" who spoil it.......never them. Just looking at the picture says it all. How totally ridiculous. These people are like lemmings running on well worn rails. The irony is that you can go to Laem Sadet midweek and it is like a ghost town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryasimight Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 And all based on a report from an Aussie source. Nothing official from a Thai authority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farcanell Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Glass bottom boat tourism perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEngBKK Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Thai greed is destroying the beaches.... Not the tourists.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awinkl Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Went over to Phi Phi from Koh Lanta on a Day Trip and then wanted to find a Boat to take us to Maya Bay, but decided against it due to the cost of 1700 Bath pP and also the time constraint to get the Ferry back to Koh Lanta in the late afternoon. Some of the more realistic Boat Operators did mention that Maya Bay is very, very crowded with Tourists (just like Phi Phi is) - but they are now offering an EARLY Option at 07:00 Departure from Phi Phi, which supposedly brings you to an (almost) empty Maya Beach????? But of course, that would mean having to stay on Phi Phi for at least 1 night..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffphuket Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Fake news from a rumor that was started a few days back! Someone show me a link proving over-wise, from a government source.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overherebc Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 17 hours ago, farcanell said: Glass bottom boat tourism perhaps? Boats with a big plug in the keel that drops out when tourist numbers exceed the permitted numbers maybe?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
someonelovesyou Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 11 hours ago, Awinkl said: ... wanted to find a Boat to take us to Maya Bay, but decided against it due to the cost of 1700 Bath pP ... I was also quoted 1700pp and decided against it. Then my girlfriend managed to go haggle 500pp so we ended up going. Apparently they have some margin in the 1700pp price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overherebc Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Let the boats into the bay go slowly past the beach for photographs then back out again with no-one allowed to land. For a year at least, not 3 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Dude Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 It looks like a ghastly experience from the photo in post #6. Leave it to heal for a bit, then re-open it with a strict 500 tourists a day limit and double or triple the price to visit such a special place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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