At Thailand's reopened Maya Bay

After being closed for more than 3 years, the world-famous Maya Bay in Thailand is welcoming back tourists with crystal clear blue water, a white sandy beach and new rules. Read CNA's Pichayada Promchertchoo's full report: cna.asia/3rI2Uh3
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[@kimlove5760]

This is how sustainable tourism should be!!! Maya Bay can is now safe for the next generation to come. I am very proud of my Thai government for stepping up and do the right thing. I think Maya Bay should be one example of many more beaches in Thailand that too crowded and lost its beauty from mass tourism. Bravo to Thai government, I am very proud of you and THANK YOU.

[@johntheaccountant5594]

I hope they restrict the tourists coming. Maybe they should charge a 1000 baht fee for foreigners to go to keep the numbers down.

[@stangoodvibes]

It won't make any difference. The kind of people who want to go to Maya Bay are the kind of people who just want to tell people they went somewhere 'famous', even though there are much nicer beaches elsewhere in Thailand. You can't even swim! 🙄😅

[@johntheaccountant5594]

@@stangoodvibes The usual people that want to take selfies to put on their FaceBook to get some likes. The same kind that go to a Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver restaurant to eat hyper inflated pre-prepared food.

[@stangoodvibes]

@@johntheaccountant5594 exactly. And The Beach was released in 1999, but they didn't close Maya Bay until 2018. Why? Because Vloggers vlogged it and the sheep watched it and by the end there were 5000 idiots a day all standing on a ridiculously crowded beach to get that selfie. And the ultimate irony - they were less than 3-4 hours away from some of the most outstanding beaches in all of Thailand, if not the world! #fail

[@kimlove5760]

John, I like your idea, one stone two birds. First, Thai government make more money (just kidding), second Maya Bay will be safer. I said safer NOT safe, because as of today, there is still a lot of tourists coming, a little over 4000/day is not a big decreased in number compared to before closing (a little over 5000/day). What make Thai government so sure that the tourists who are in the water does not wear sunscreen which has chemical that do damage to the coral reef and marine life??? In my opinion they shouldn't be anyone in the Bay at all, should be just on the beach. Maya Bay before the movie was almost NO ONE there, we had her to ourselves alone. It's used to be my weekend picknick with my family. To me they re-opened too soon as the regrowth of the coral reef is only 1% of every three months (based on the article about coral reef I read). In the late 2017, the assessment was that the coral reef at Maya Bay was totally damaged (99%) from the mass tourism in the past 17 years and the Bay didn't close until mid 2018. So, it would take much longer than 3 years for the coral reef to regrowth. I think they should keep it close for at least 10 years' time (at least 1/10 of the damaged would-be repair) I was born and raised in Phuket (not too far from Rawai beach) this is my hometown and I watch the damage being done to her throughout the years and couldn't do anything about it. Have friend who is a writer wrote an article about it, only result in silence. It broke my heart, but I am so happy now that they finally saw what has had happened to Maya Bay and do something about it. Thanks to Dr. Thon who alarmed the government about the damaged of Maya Bay. Anyhow, I am very glad to see that she is back and look beautiful than ever. PS: Also, so glad to see all the park rangers there to remind people of their activity on the Bay (not to swim in the Bay). They are lots of stubborn tourists everywhere who like to break the rules even if all the signs are there.

[@poramint.884]

A few years ago, you came here and showed the world how this place was deteriorated. Good to see you came back and present the decent content of Maya bay reopening.

[@arsalanmirza3716]

Now keep it CLEAN 👍

[@michaelkhoo1176]

Well done. Let’s continue to preserve

[@sharon4250]

Good! Now we learn to respect nature and other species 💖

[@pinkmaro]

humans don't learn. that's the problem.

[@sharon4250]

@@pinkmaro 😔

[@reymar4657]

It looks like the El Nido, Philippines.

[@bboy4339]

Heaven on earth

[@lowchristopher5226]

This place is heaven and I miss those days when we could swim all day long!

[@CarneSagrado]

. I hope all tourist spots become as eco-friendly as they make it, learn a lesson before it's all too late 💖💖💖 .

[@arifrony4976]

It is wonderful place same is dream 💕

[@janus302]

It was a very good to close maya bay,my last visit to the bay was in 2002 and it was packet with boats and People,when i was enterting the bay you could not see the beach anymore but only speedboats and People,then i decided not to go anymore. So i hope that they keep like it is now.

[@NRK-GO]

Thanks for Best decision of Thai Marine department 👍

[@hangtuahhastinapura3052]

What if your PCR test repeatedly shows positive upon entering the country like this poor Turkish guy ? Turkish man Muzaffer Kayasan may hold the record for the longest period of infection for any COVID-19 patient, reported Daily Sabah. The 56-year-old has tested positive for Covid since 2020 and is seeking a way out of his situation, which has confined him to his home and hospitals for a total of 14 months.

[@tomwatson9710]

Nature can heal itself, it just takes a little time :)

[@kimxgamer]

Not for long that you will see the blue water if tourists will flood the beach again. Soon will repeat again and again :/ unless they try to mitigate the impacts

[@dlwabbit]

Told you that Thanos might be right 😁

[@gngoxuanhong]

Canh đep qua ban oi

[@LEE-HAN-BUN]

This bay for shark swimming only. Human, please next bay.

[@harrow2355]

Call a place paradise you can kiss it goodbye,but if you take care of the eco system and provide measures for the operators and tourists to abide by there is a chance just like this example,Boracay Island in the Philippines was just another example of misuse of waste management and not putting in stringent measures so all people can adhere to,they closed the island for a while but waste management has to do better for a cleaner and greener holiday in these destinations.

[@stangoodvibes]

Nice quote from The Last Resort.

[@dashimae8850]

does it rains whole day in Phuket ? next week forecast news show many days have scattered thunderstorms.

[@wendyshoo3476]

They shouldn' put shark on the beach. They should put red garoupa, goliath garoupa, silver & golden promfret

[@joachimbucherer5030]

Mass tourism destroys everything. People were even robbing corals! Those people deserved good fines!

[@shenbaga1996]

Without humans earth is good 😊

[@kayderl]

Admire the political determination of their government willing to close a money making venue. But also glad it's reopened now.

[@blizzaroxxx]

RIP coral reefs

[@perfectvita]

Will go Bangkok again if 1. Only one ART or ATK test BEFORE flight. Not PCR. And 2. Thailand stop seeing tourists as money machine... Stop forcing tourists with no COVID, to hospital/Hospitel QUARANTINE! Many horror stories by tourists who feel well, no covid but force to quarantine by ThaiS, because Thai system says they were "near infected person"! 10 days quarantine despite feeling well, once the Thai system mysteriously informs you you were "close to infected person" (in aeroplane, along road, just anywhere)

[@WShan1966]

Zero chance I spend the time or money on this place now that you cannot enter the water……

[@KSG10]

😍🥰😘👏

[@hookoo9182]

Sharky Jaws

[@stangoodvibes]

It's nice, don't get me wrong. But there are much nicer beaches in Thailand, and you can't even swim at Maya Bay! A 'lifeguard' blows a whistle if you go in deeper than your knees. It's basically a paddling pool for tourists who have zero sense of adventure. Totally lame

[@kimlove5760]

David are you in or are you out for sustainable tourism? If you think swimming should be allow, then Maya Bay will be back the way it was before closing. As sunscreen has Chemical that do damage to the coral reef. I am sure these tourists do wear sunscreen when they are at Maya Bay as it is extremely hot with strong sunshine.

[@stangoodvibes]

@@kimlove5760 personally I don't understand why everyone wants to go to Maya Bay. As mentioned - it's just a nice beach you can't do much else but look at. There are far nicer beaches you can visit, particularly if you are into diving, where we don't wear sunblock, and where I always take a big bag to pick up rubbish off whatever beach we stop at for lunch, or if I see plastic floating in the open ocean (whenever it's possible to jump off the dive boat). I think they did a good job with Maya Bay, other than still letting boats into the entrance. Pretty hard to get that deserted Maya Bay Insta photo when there's a big white motor launch in the background 😤 And yes we went, because we'd paid for a boat for a day free diving and we had some time to kill and were nearby. But otherwise I wouldn't have gone out of my way.

[@kimlove5760]

@@stangoodvibes Thank you for helping save the environment on Thailand beaches, as Phuket is my hometown, I appreciated you and those who done the same very much. Totally agreed on the dock area, it's eventually will also be depleted sooner or later. It's like solved problem on one area by dumped the same problem to another area which is doesn't make sense. To me the best solution is to limit overall number of tourists coming in Thailand. Instead of 40 millions/year, should be less and be more selective on who allow to be visiting Thailand (seem naive & easy but This is what I heard from one of the advisors for Thai tourism authority and I am all for it) and this way it doesn't overwhelmed and able to accommodate the resources and environmental for next generation to comes. Maya Bay used to be the picnic area where my family went often for years (before the movie), NO ONE there at all (NONE). I grew up not too far from Rawai beach. So, it's broke my heart to see how Phuket beaches changed over the years (lost its natural beauty). I like to save it for my children and grandchildren and so on).

[@stangoodvibes]

@@kimlove5760 I'm a Kiwi and also I am naturally a cleaner. I like cleaning stuff up. I get a sense of satisfaction out of seeing a dirty beach clean again, even if I can only do so much. The problem is bigger than just a few volunteers. Rubbish, especially plastic, is a global issue and not all the rubbish on the beaches comes from Thailand. Still, it's disappointing to see rubbish everywhere (not just beaches) and no-one lifting a finger to help clean - Thais or tourists. It's an education thing for both, and also some inentives to collect plastic bottles for recycling (as in Australia people actually make a small living from picking up cans and plastic bottles and taking them to a recycling centre) would help. The two-edged sword of tourism - easy money, but it comes with a massive environmental cost. Maya Bay wasn't just about ignorant tourists, it was also about opportunistic Thais who saw an easy way to make money without any thought for giving something back. In the end, everyone lost. Again, education and regulation. Also a bit less corruption would go a long way - I'm pretty sure none of that 400 baht pp for Maya Bay or 200 baht pp every day for diving off Koh Phi Phi is actually going towards anything environmental. As The Thaiger pointed out - if you want a better class of tourist, then make it easier for us expats to retire here. We are generally a pretty tidy generation and we have lots of money we spend in the community and are (usually) a positive contributer to Thailand. It would be nice if tourism was somehow more regulated and controlled and limited, but I can't see it happening until more places get trashed and eventually have daily limits. There isn't a lot of forward thinking about either overtourism or sustainable rubbish unfortunately. Also I have to clean clandestinely, because it's a crime here to do any cleaning without a work permit **rolls eyes**

[@mookmook4555]

Baby sharks

[@jameslim6865]

Please do not ever visit unless you're a environmentally responsible person. If you're those who uses ART kits everyday or dispose your face mask after a single use, you're absolutely irresponsible and you should keep yourself at home. Do not go out and destroy our precious green Earth.

[@kimlove5760]

Sustainable Tourism is the way to go. To save these precious natural resources for next generation to comes and beyond.

[@johnbob4957]

Lies

[@p6953]

Thai PM love Maya Bay ... why? ... $$$$$$$$

[@kimlove5760]

Save it for the next generation to comes. As simple as that? Money is not everything. Thailand has more ways to make money without damaging its natural resources. Overall GDP for Tourism is only 10% in 2021. Foreigner always think Thailand so dependable on Tourism, not at all. In the next few years, the strategy for tourism will changed. The 40 million visitors in 2019, overwhelmed Thailand and the tourism authority know that they will have to set the limit number of tourists in Thailand in the near future. I heard that the first group that they target on is Bag Packers.

[@p6953]

I will try to be more naive . Hope my GPA 4.56 will put me back to think as simple as it seems. Singaporean are complicated creatures .

[@kimlove5760]

@@p6953 I'm perhaps naive too and hope my MBA (USA) help me stop believing in Thai government and come to my sense (based on their plans). Phuket is my hometown was born and raised near Rawai beach and I love Phuket to death. It used to be quiet and peaceful place (30+ years ago). Maya Bay before the movie was NO ONE there (NONE), my family used to picnic there all the time, alone. We had her to ourselves until 2000, everything changed. Not just Maya Bay that being depleted, pretty much all the beaches in Phuket and around Thailand lost its natural beauty due to mass tourism. I do believe that at some points, things need to be done or changed to stop the damaged to all Thailand natural resources, as once lost, it can't be replaced. Or it could be but take millions of years. FYI, Bali government felt the same way, they are going to limit the number of tourists in Bali starting this year even sooner than Thailand and first target is also bag packers which they are being criticizing for it too. I don't know how, but this is based on the announcement of both Thai & Bali government. I am all for it, to preserve these beauty treasure for next generation to comes (especially Thais, my children and grandchildren and so on before it too late).

[@fazilsmith]

can't swim? what a joke