Krabi (Thailand) – May 19, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has announced that Maya Bay in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park will be closed to visitors during a much-needed four-month remediation period from June 1 to September 30, 2018.

The DNP announced at a press conference on May 15 that access to Maya Bay will be strictly prohibited during the four-month restoration work.

Boats will not be allowed to enter the bay in front of the beach or even anchor in the nearby Loh Samah Bay, as visitors and their ships will be denied access to Maya Bay.

Travelers can still catch a glimpse of the breathtaking beauty of the bay, made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio's film "The Beach," from a distance of 400 meters or between the two cliffs that form a natural entrance to the lagoon. However, this is strictly monitored by the National Park Service (DNP).

Over the course of the four-month study period, the DNP is conducting an assessment of coastal and marine environmental quality. This will include evaluating the condition of reefs and beaches, environmental measures, and tourism management. The aim is to develop appropriate measures for the ecological sustainability of Maya Bay during the upcoming off-season tourist seasons.

Temporary closures of natural attractions are nothing new in Thailand. Every year, the National Parks Administration of Thailand (DNP) closes several national parks for a specific period to allow the ecosystems time to recover. The exact dates vary depending on the weather and the condition of the parks, as the closures are often due to extreme weather conditions, particularly during the annual monsoon, which can create dangerous situations.

International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand, 1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48, Fax: +66 (0) 2250 0246