Bangkok (CNN) — The authorities in Thailand have announced a reopening date for one of the country’s most famous attractions.
Maya Bay, a beautiful cove made famous by “The Beach” – a 2000 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio – will reopen to tourists on January 1, 2022, according to a statement released by Thailand’s Department of National Parks.
But unlike many attractions that have reopened in recent months, Maya Bay’s initial closure had nothing to do with the pandemic.
The popular destination has been closed to tourists since June 2018 as authorities launched a rejuvenation program aimed at reviving the destroyed corals of the popular area.
Located in Thailand’s Hat Nophrat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Maya Bay is part of Phi Phi Leh – one of the two main Phi Phi islands in Krabi province.
Unlike the much larger Phi Phi Don, home to an abundance of budget and mid-range accommodation options, Phi Phi Leh was only open to day-trip visitors before Maya Bay closed.
But it has remained one of the country’s best-known attractions over the past two decades, thanks in large part to the global success of “The Beach,” part of which was filmed there.
“The Beach”, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Alex Garland.
20th century Fox
On a CNN field trip several weeks before its closure, the number of visitors multiplied by the minute as boats pour in and out of the bay. Many visitors to the area were day-trippers from Phuket, which is less than an hour’s ride away by speedboat. According to official figures, the Gulf had an estimated 5,000 visitors per day on average in 2018.
“Maya Bay has been receiving continued interest from tourists from all over the world. But it has also damaged[the natural area]especially the corals,” Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varavat Silpa-Archa said in a statement issued on November 14.
“After resurfacing Maya Bay and closing it for restoration, to the present, it is back in a good condition.”
new entry rules
Reopening comes with several caveats. Boats will not be able to enter the bay. Instead, drivers must drop off passengers at a pier in the back of the island, off the famous cove.
Only eight speedboats will be allowed to dock there at a time, and trips will be limited to one hour, with a maximum of 300 tourists allowed per round, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
This photo taken on October 4, 2019 shows boats at the Maya Bay boundary line set by the Thai National Parks, Department of Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The beach is off limits.
Mladen Antonov / AFP / Getty Images
In the statement, Varavut said the government is now working to eliminate new piers and establish designated areas for water activities, which will be ready to reopen on January 1.
Boats are currently allowed to enter the outer boundary of the bay. The shores of Maya Bay are off limits, but visitors can still view the beach from their boat. Snorkeling is still permitted in designated areas facing the bay.
Thailand re-opens for vaccination travelers
Incoming fliers who meet the updated requirements are only required to stay one night in a government-approved hotel while they await the results of a COVID-19 test administered upon arrival.
Tourists who have not been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine will be required to quarantine at a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days upon arrival.
The reopening comes on the eve of Thailand’s tourism high season. In a statement released in mid-October, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said an easing of restrictions was needed to allow Thailand to take advantage of travelers hoping to travel during the upcoming winter holidays.
“We must act quickly but still carefully and not miss the opportunity to entice travelers to the end of the year and the New Year holiday season … to support the millions of people who earn a living from our tourism,” he said.
Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for about 15% of Thailand’s GDP, according to World Bank data.
Top image: An aerial view of Phi Phi Leh, with Maya Bay at its center. credit: Adobe Stock
CNN’s Kocha Olern contributed to this report.
,