Thailand's Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plants (DNP) has prepared to close off Maya Bay in Hat Nopparat Thara-Moo Koh Phi Phi National Park of Krabi province to allow its ecosystem to revitalise during the monsoon season.

Visitors at Maya Bay (Source: Bangkok Post)

DNP Director-General Tanya Netidhammakul explained that regular arrivals, averaging 3,000-4,000 people per day, have severely affected coral reefs in Maya Bay. It will be officially closed to visitors from June 1 to September 30 this year to allow rejuvenation. During the period, all tourism activities will be banned and any passing vessels will have to drift through the area without using their engines.

A dock bridge is also to be installed in the Lohsama Bay area to the rear of Maya Bay, which will not allow ships to pass through. Once the bay is reopened, tourist traffic will be made to pass through Lohsama.

Maya Bay is to be a pilot area for the use of e-tickets to restrict tourist numbers. Only 2,000 people will be allowed to enter the area each day. Water management and facilities for park rangers will also be improved with the entire area to serve as a model for other tourist islands in the future.

(Source: VNA)