Maya Bay, one of Thailand’s most iconic tourism destinations, has finally reopened to the public after more than four years of closure due to damage caused by overcrowding. Now, with the bay back in business, tourism players say they have learned their lesson and will follow the advice of scientific experts.
At the peak of its popularity, Maya Bay was attracting up to 8,000 visitors a day. But this tiny beach was quickly overwhelmed by the crowds; its iconic white sands became littered with trash and its azure waters churned up by boat propellers.
That’s why, in 2018, the Thai government took the unprecedented step of closing the site to tourism indefinitely, or at least until a point when the ecosystem had had enough time to recover. As one of the country’s most iconic locations, officials and experts felt there was a need to preserve Maya Bay’s natural beauty, but also manage its interactions with the public moving forwards so it could continue to be a top attraction.
Since then, a leading team of marine scientists have been working on a large-scale restoration project for the bay. In collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and members of the private sector, this team has put sustainability at the top of the agenda for Maya Bay.
This work continues now that tourists are finally allowed to return. The new-look Maya Bay experience will be more restrictive than previously, with visitor numbers carefully monitored, boat trips regulated and anti-littering and smoking protocols rigorously enforced.
The benefits of this approach can already be seen in the local ecosystem, where water quality has returned to normal, corals are slowly growing back and schools of reef sharks have even been spotted in the bay. After working so hard for so long, experts are adamant that the new standards should not be allowed to slip.
“The best solution is nobody comes,” says marine biologist and professor Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat. “If you ask me as a scientist, keep the bay for the sharks. But as we know, the bay is a big tourism spot. So we have to compromise,” he added.
Located in Thailand’s Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Maya Bay can be found on the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh, which is one of the two main Phi Phi islands, in Krabi province. The site was made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. A movie that was, somewhat prophetically, a story about the dangers of over tourism.
