Govt considers reopening Maya Bay to tourists next year
The white sandy beaches of Krabi’s beautiful Maya Bay may be opened to tourists next year, though a panel of experts will first be consulted about the suitability of the plan.
The beach on Phi Phi Leh island, made famous by the 2000 Hollywood blockbuster “The Beach”, has been closed since mid-2018 for rejuvenation.
After the more than two-year closure, the beach is pristine once more, the greenery is flourishing, while long-lost crabs and other marine creatures have returned to hunt in the bay again.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Warawut Silpa-Archa said on Tuesday the island will be opened to tourists in a bid to rebuild the tourism industry, which has been crippled by the Covid-19 outbreak.
However, before that is done, a committee of experts will first be consulted on the feasibility of allowing no more than 350 people to visit the island daily and the plan to ensure no boats are anchored near the shore. If the panel agrees, the island will be opened to tourists next year.
Warawut, meanwhile, is encouraging people to visit Thailand’s 155 national parks, especially Phang Nga Bay were the famous Koh Tapu or James Bond Island is located.
