Close Thailand's dream islands: Fight against overtourism begins!

Close Thailand's dream islands: Fight against overtourism begins!

Maya Bay, Thailand - Tourism is the most important position in the Thai gross national product and experiences a remarkable recovery. Thailand lists almost as many visitors as before pandemic, which is due to the increasing interest in its natural beauties and cultural sites. Bangkok, the most successful travel destination in the world, welcomed 32.4 million visitors last year and is therefore more popular than Istanbul and London. One reason for the increase is the high season from October to March, in which the Restaurants are often fully booked and taxis are expensive.

But in the middle of this tourist return there are also worrying developments. In order to protect the natural ecology of important islands, the Thai government has decided to close the Similan and Surin Islands for five months. This measure should give nature the necessary time to relax. In addition, the diving and snorkeling spaces in the national park around Phi Phi Leh were released for visitors again after one year.

Maya Bay: An example of sustainable tourism

Maya Bay, known for the film "The Beach", was a hotspot for tourists for a long time and suffered significantly from overtourism. Before the closure due to environmental damage in 2018, up to 8,000 tourists visited the bay every day. All of this led to a dramatic decline in the ecological health of the area, so that marine biologists like Dr. Thon Thamronnawasawat campaigned for a closure.

In February 2023, Maya Bay was reopened by tourists after being closed for rehabilitation since June 2018. Since the closure, over 30,000 corals have been planted, around 50 percent of which survived. Wild animals also returned like the top of the black. Access to the bay is now limited to 4,125 visitors a day, and admission takes place in one -hour time windows. Boats are no longer allowed to enter the bay and swimming is prohibited for reasons of nature conservation.

The further closure of Maya Bay is already planned for the period from August 1 to September 30, 2023 to make infrastructural improvements and reduce the tourist effort. The resort Saii Phi Phi Island Village is now involved in marine nature conservation projects, including a breeding program for bamboo sharks.

future of tourism in Thailand

Returning to tourism is of great importance for Thailand, in particular the return of Chinese tourists is considered crucial for the recovery of the industry. According to forecasts, the number of international tourists in Thailand will probably reach 24 million by 2024, which corresponds to about 60 percent of the level before pandemic.

Despite the ongoing challenges and the necessary measures to maintain natural resources, the successful protection of Maya Bay may serve as a model for sustainable tourism in other regions. In the medium term, an electronic ticket system for entrance control on the Similan Islands is to be introduced in October in order to effectively regulate the number of visitors.

The challenges in Thai tourism show how important a balance is between promoting travel and the protection of the environment. Thailand tries to develop a sustainable tourism strategy that brings both economic advantages and preserves the natural beauty of the country.

For more information about the developments in Thai tourism, please visit sueddeutsche.de and cnn.com .