Famous Thai Beach Needs to Recover From Tourists. Now, The Beach Can Recuperate.
October 2018
Leonardo DiCaprio made it famous in his 2000 film “The Beach”. Drop-dead gorgeous, the beach became hugely popular with tourists. The golden sand and crystal water of Maya Bay, ringed by cliffs, has become one of Thailand’s most-visited tourist destinations since the film was released.
And it has paid a heavy price.
Each day, up to 5,000 tourists and 200 boats arrive. Each DAY.
And they have destroyed the beach. There is pollution from litter, from boats and from sun cream – and now it is estimated that more than 80% of the coral around Maya Bay has been destroyed.
Originally, Thai authorities said they would close the bay from 1 June for four months. But local environmental campaigners said a four-month closure was not nearly enough. Coral only grows about half a centimetre a year, so it will take years for the reef to be fully restored.
Luckily, the beach will now be closed to tourists for at least one year, because the damage to the ecosystems there is so terrible.
It’s been a struggle. It’s been obvious for a long time that the levels of tourism were unsustainable. But tourists brought in revenue of almost $13 million each year – important to a developing country..
It’s Not Just Thailand
Several other nearby countries are also struggling with excessive tourism.
- In April, the Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, announced a six-month closure of the Boracay beach resort, calling the destination a “cesspool”.
- Indonesia declared a “garbage emergency” last year along a stretch of the island of Bali, after coastal pollution was highlighted in a viral video that showed a diver swimming through water full of rubbish.
Is Tourism Bad?
No, certainly not. We all need to travel, to learn and to grow, and countries need revenue. But it’s got to be managed properly, to ensure it’s sustainable. Revenue from tourism needs to go to local inhabitants and towards protecting the environment. So that gorgeous destinations stays that way for generations to come.
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.
Related:
- Eco tourism – it’s not basic (unless you want it to be)
- Get rid of all the toxic products in your life (you’ll be shocked at where they hide!). It’s easy – see how here!
