The Koh Phi Phi islands in Thailand, renowned for their breathtaking scenery, are grappling with severe overtourism. A recent video showing hundreds of tourists packed shoulder-to-shoulder on the shores has sparked concerns. The islands, located in the Andaman Sea, feature dramatic limestone cliffs, white sand bays, and turquoise waters filled with tropical fish. They gained international fame after starring in Danny Boyle's film The Beach, which has led to a surge in visitors.
Maya Bay's Environmental Toll
The success of The Beach has been disastrous for Maya Bay, the pristine location where the film was shot. Each year, massive numbers of tourists flock to the bay to enjoy its clear waters and golden sands. However, the reality today is far from the paradise depicted in the film. A video posted on Reddit shows a dense crowd near the dock, prompting negative reactions. One user commented, "Nothing about that looks fun," while another said, "Absolutely not worth going. I went last month and it was so crowded it just wasn’t fun. At all." A third described it as "a nightmare."
Efforts to Combat Overtourism
Koh Tours, which offers trips around the archipelago, noted in a blog post that efforts to tackle overtourism have been challenging. Koh Phi Phi Leh, the smaller uninhabited island housing Maya Bay, was closed for three years after tourism damaged coral and stressed blacktip reef sharks. It reopened in January 2022 with restrictions including timed entries, boat limits, no overnight stays, and a ban on sunscreen in the water. While conditions have improved, the island remains crowded, with a boat limit still allowing hundreds of visitors at a time in the shallow bay.
Koh Phi Phi Don, the other main island, also suffers from overcrowding. The village on Tonsai Bay, which encompasses most of the flat area between two bays, experiences more foot traffic per square metre than many Thai cities, according to Koh Tours.
Sustainable Tourism Alternatives
Jub Yata, a destination manager at Intrepid Travel, a sustainable tourism firm, commented on Maya Bay: "Right now, you just walk around, you take the photos, then you have to leave. Everyone wants to see the beach from the DiCaprio film. It is beautiful, I can't deny, but there are too many people." Intrepid Travel promotes responsible tourism by directing visitors to less crowded islands such as Koh Thap, Koh Poda, and Koh Khai.
- Koh Thap: One of the most popular offshore islands near Krabi, known for the Talay Waek phenomenon, where a sandbar emerges at low tide connecting Chicken Island to Koh Mor and Koh Thap.
- Koh Poda: A quiet, tranquil island described by one Intrepid traveller as "a completely deserted Robinson Crusoe island."
- Koh Khai: The most built-up of the three, consisting of three small islands—Khai Nok, Khai Nai, and Khai Nui. Khai Nai is the largest, offering spectacular views and a white sandy beach ideal for snorkelling and swimming.
These alternatives provide visitors with beautiful scenery and activities while alleviating pressure on the overburdened Koh Phi Phi islands.
