Thailand's Maya Bay, made famous in the 2000 film "The Beach," is closing to tourists for the first time. The crowds it attracts have damaged the beach and its surroundings, according to Thailand's national parks department. The beach now is also unlike the one depicted in the film because of crowds, litter, and the noise of boat engines, the BBC reported. It will close on Friday and is set to reopen on September 30. Thailand's Maya Bay, made famous in the 2000 film "The Beach," is closing on Friday because it has been damaged by too many tourists. A bucket-list tropical spot for travellers, the stunning beach became extra popular with visitors after Leonardo DiCaprio graced its shores in Danny Boyle's film. But all the trips to Maya Bay have damaged the beach and its surroundings, according to environmentalists. The BBC reported that Thai authorities would close the beach, a short strip of land on the island of Ko Phi Phi Leh, to tourists for the first time to give it "a chance to recover from the strain of thousands of daily visitors." Tourists on the beach at Maya Bay, in Thailand. Reuters The beach today is also unlike the one depicted in the film, as it is much more crowded and "definitely not relaxing," the BBC said, with the sound of boat engines in the background and some litter on the sand. One 23-year-old tourist, Lara Vogelsberg, told the BBC: "The beach in the film is very relaxing, there are no people to be seen, and you get this idea of a very lonely place in the middle of nowhere. Then you come here and you think you're in Times Square in New York." You can watch the trailer for "The Beach" here: Thon Thamrongnawasawat, an adviser to Thailand's national parks department, told the BBC: "We are a beautiful country, but we have to protect our natural resources." He added: "We have significant information that all the boats that come in and out really impact the coral reef." In a notice, the department also acknowledged "the deterioration of the ecosystem in the area of Maya Bay." A tourist at Maya Bay. Reuters However, as tourism is a massive source of income for Thailand — about 467,000 UK tourists visited the country in 2016 — the beach won't be closed forever. It's set to reopen on September 30. "We won't close it to tourism forever but have to do something to save our sea, and we have to start at Maya Bay," Thamrongnawasawat told the BBC.<doc-sep>Once a pristine Thai paradise, the secluded bay made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach has been exhausted by mass tourism. Now it’s getting a break. After Friday, the daily influx of dozens of boats and thousands of visitors unsuccessfully scrambling for an unspoiled view of Maya Bay’s emerald waters and glistening white sand will end. The attraction is being closed for four months to give its coral reefs and sea life a chance to recover. Thailand has promoted unfettered tourism for decades and the onslaught on Maya Bay, which is on Phi Phi Leh Island in the Andaman Sea, has only picked up pace in recent years. Authorities now say they are striving to balance profit and conservation and the closure will happen every year. It’s part of a rethink happening globally about unrestricted tourism that brings in big dollars but damages historic sites, harms the environment, and often alienates locals. Last month, the Philippines began a six-month closure of popular Boracay Island, whose waters President Rodrigo Duterte described as a “cesspool”. (Shutterstock) Last month, the Philippines began a six-month closure of popular Boracay Island, whose waters President Rodrigo Duterte described as a “cesspool”. Venice, the famed Italian lagoon city that lives off tourism, installed gates at two access bridges during a four-day holiday in April so it could turn back visitors if numbers became overwhelming. Many of Thailand’s marine national parks are closed from mid-May to mid-October during the monsoon but because of Maya Bay’s popularity, it hasn’t had a break since a Hollywood crew set foot on its sands in 1999 to film the dark backpacker tale based on a novel by Alex Garland. Its corals have been decimated by the suffocating clouds of sand and sediment churned up by speedboats. “I tried to push this campaign for many, many years, but you know in Thailand we are a tourism industry country and we need a lot of money, so before, not so many people listened,” said Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine biologist and member of a government committee on development and the environment. “It should have been done 10 years ago, but at least it has been done,” he said. Venice, the famed Italian lagoon city that lives off tourism, installed gates at two access bridges during a four-day holiday in April so it could turn back visitors if numbers became overwhelming. (Shutterstock) Thailand had about 35 million international visitors last year, a five-fold increase in little more than two decades. Shi Pengfei, among the last tourists to visit Maya Bay before its closure, said he had no idea that there would be so many people on the beach. “I feel that there are so many people here,” said Shi, from Henan, China. “The government’s plan to close off the beach for a few months is only natural because the ocean needs a break, a chance to recover, so that the next generation can have a better and even more beautiful destination.” But locals aren’t entirely happy. The head of the Phi Phi Tourist Business Association, Watrapol Jantharo, said he was surprised when the closure was announced in March by Thailand’s National Parks and Wildlife Department. He said locals were under the impression that Maya Bay would only be closed to boats, while visitors would still walk to the bay from the other side of the island. “We are not against protecting our environment,” he said. “We know full well that Maya Bay is our important resource, like a rice field to a farmer, but we wish there are more communications about the government’s plan before the decision was made.” Thon, however, said the plan was discussed with locals for three years before a decision was made. “In the past, we made some mistakes because we thought that money is very important. But now, we are trying to change this idea,” he said, adding, “Overseas visitors are very important to our country, but the most important thing is national resources. We have to preserve and hand it over to the next generation.” Tachai Island in the Similan Islands National Park has been off-limits to tourists since mid-2016. (Shutterstock) The government has set a limit of 2,000 tourists a day when the bay reopens — about half the current number. Boats will no longer be allowed to anchor but must dock on the opposite side of the island. “Now that the government has this plan, we can’t change it. But we could use this opportunity to tell the world that we do not just have Maya Bay. There are 10 other beautiful beaches and islands around here that tourists can enjoy,” said Watrapol. Thailand’s efforts to protect certain islands after decades of unregulated tourism began about three years ago under the current military junta. Yoong Island, part of the Phi Phi island chain, and Tachai Island in the Similan Islands National Park, have been off-limits to tourists since mid-2016. Thon, who surveyed both islands recently, said he was amazed by the results. Waters that were devoid of fish are now teeming, he said, and there is about 10,000 square metres (107,600 square feet) of newly recovered coral off one of the islands. At Maya Bay, park rangers have been preparing a coral propagation program, attaching it to rocks that will be placed in the bay once the tourists are gone. “We’re almost certain that something good will happen in Maya Bay,” Thon said. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more<doc-sep>Maya Bay, the popular beach in Thailand made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie The Beach, will be closed to tourists after Friday. The beach, located on the Phi Phi Leh Island in the Andaman Sea, has seen a huge influx of crowds since the movie came out in 2000. It will be closed for four months each year, which should allow the coral reefs and sea life to recover. The massive amounts of sand kicked up by tourists have damaged the reefs. You've probably seen it somewhere on your Instagram explore feed. It's become a popular destination for influencers, travelers, and tourists. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Many of Thailand's beaches are closed mid-May to October because of Monsoon season, but Maya Bay usually stays open year-round because of its popularity. When the beach does reopen, there will be a limit of 2,000 tourists per day. "I tried to push this campaign for many, many years, but you know in Thailand we are a tourism industry country and we need a lot of money, so before not so many people listened," marine biologist and member of a government committee on development and the environment Thon Thamrongnawasawat said. "It should have been done 10 years ago but at least it has been done," he said. The Thai people hope to find a balance between preservation and profit, but some locals aren't happy about the closure. "We are not against protecting our environment," Phi Phi Tourist Business Association head Watrapol Jantharohe said. "We know full well that Maya Bay is our important resource, like a rice field to a farmer, but we wish there are more communications about the government's plan before the decision was made." Additional reporting by the Associated Press. Follow Emma on Instagram. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Maya Bay: Thailand's famous beach has now closed for four months When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow and never miss the top Royal stories again. Maya Bay has been damaged over time by the huge influx of tourists that visit every year. Since the release of the famous film The Beach 18 years ago, many travellers have headed to the island to explore it for themselves. As Thailand has become popular with backpackers and luxury resort tourists, the damage to the island and the coral has intensified. Plastic has also washed up on the shores as tourists throw their waste into the ocean. Maya Bay has now closed from today (June 1) and will remain shut for tourists for the next four months.<doc-sep>
The Thailand beach made famous in the Leonardo DiCaprio film “The Beach” is being closed to give it a break from tourists. The beach sits on Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh island, off the coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. The government ordered that no visitors will be permitted to go to the bay from June through September 2018. Thai officials say the decision is aimed at giving the area’s coral reefs and sea life a chance to recover. Tourism officials say up to 5,000 visitors travel to the beach every day. Thon Thamrongnawasawat is an ocean scientist and member of a government committee on environmental development. He told the Associated Press the closure is needed to help the beach heal. “It’s like someone who has been working for decades and has never stopped,” he said. “Overworked and tired, all the beauty of the beach is gone. We need a timeout for the beach.” Maya Bay was used as the main filming area for the 2000 movie “The Beach.” It starred Leonardo DiCaprio as an American traveling through Asia with friends. The group is given a map that promises to lead them to paradise on earth. The film showed the world the bay’s beautiful white sandy beaches and bright blue waters. Many of Thailand’s ocean national parks are closed from mid-May to mid-October. But high tourist demand led officials to keep Maya Bay open the whole year. Recent studies by ocean biologists found a large part of coral reefs in the area had disappeared. Most sea life was also gone. Thon had urged the government to close the area to visitors for many years. He said he thinks the action should have been taken at least 10 years ago. “But you know in Thailand we are a tourism industry country, and we need a lot of money, so before not so many people listened.” A Thai official in the tourist area of Phuket told Reuters the closing of Maya Bay was one way to protect part of the country’s natural beauty, which will be important for tourism in the future. But some local people are not completely happy. The head of the Phi Phi Tourist Business Association, Watrapol Jantharo, said he was surprised when the closure was announced. He said he and others in the area thought Maya Bay would only be closed to boats, while visitors would still be permitted to walk to the beach from the other side of the island. “We are not against protecting our environment,” Watrapol said. “We know full well that Maya Bay is our important resource, like a rice field to a farmer. But we wish there were more communications about the government’s plan before the decision was made.” Other Southeast Asian beach resorts have also come under threat because of continued increases in the number of visitors. ​In the Philippines, the government began in late April a six-month closure of its popular tourist island of Boracay. The island is known for its soft, white sand beaches and lively nightlife. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had called the area around Boracay a “cesspool” because of large amounts of waste going directly into the ocean. “The germ content is already very high there. It only looks good because of the white coastline,” Duterte said. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tourist – n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure coral reef – n. a long line of coral that lies in warm, shallow water (coral: a hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of small creatures) paradise – n. a perfect place or situation resource – n. natural substances such as water and wood that are valuable in supporting life cesspool – n. large, underground hole or container used for collecting and storing human waste and dirty water germ – n. a very small organism that causes disease