Another disappointment for tourists in Thailand: Maya Bay closes again, two and a half years after its reopening

Thailand continues to draw Israeli tourists in droves, even in a season not regarded as the most favourable in terms of weather. New figures point to a significant increase of 29% in the number of Israeli tourists who visited Thailand in June 2023 compared with the same month last year, with more than 17,000 visitors against about 11,000 the previous year.

This increase is especially striking given that several major airlines, such as Turkish Airlines, Emirates and Royal Jordanian, have still not resumed their flights to Israel — something that could have raised the number of visitors further still.

However, tourists planning their holiday in Thailand in August–September 2024 face a disappointment. The famous Maya Bay beach, which won worldwide fame in the film "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is due to close again from 1 August until the end of September 2024.

This temporary closure comes about two and a half years after the beach reopened in January 2022, at the end of a prolonged four-year closure. During that long closure, which began in 2018, the Thai authorities invested considerable effort in rehabilitating the area, which had suffered severe environmental damage from the weight of visitors.

During the previous closure, extensive work was carried out to clean up the pollution, plant trees and vegetation, and even "plant" corals in the marine reserve. The results of those efforts were impressive: the blacktip shark population in the area grew from just 6 in 2018 to around 100 in 2022.

Since its reopening in January 2022, new limits have been placed on visits to the beach. These included capping the number of visitors at 300 per shift, with a total of about 3,000 visitors a day — a dramatic drop from the peak of 6,000 visitors a day in 2018. New regulations were introduced, such as requiring passengers to disembark at a floating pontoon, restricting the swimming areas, and installing a boardwalk to prevent damage to the sand and vegetation.

In addition to Maya Bay, other beaches in the area, such as LoKo Bay and Loh Sama, will also close for the same period and for the same reasons. These steps underline Thailand's commitment to sustainable tourism and to protecting its natural treasures.

Despite the temporary closures, Thailand still offers an abundance of attractions and spectacular scenery for visitors. Tourists planning to visit the affected areas are advised to check the exact closure timetables and adjust their plans accordingly.

The rise in the number of Israeli tourists, despite the logistical challenges and the temporary closures, attests to Thailand's enduring popularity as a leading tourist destination. It also underlines the importance of planning ahead and checking site availability before travelling.