A shocking scene of overcrowding along one of the world’s most iconic coastlines has sparked serious concerns over overtourism.
The Koh Phi Phi islands in Thailand boast some of the most spectacular scenery you are ever likely to encounter. Nestled in the Andaman Sea, they feature dramatic limestone cliffs and pristine white sand bays enveloped by crystal-clear turquoise waters teeming with tropical fish.
The islands have long been a firm favourite amongst tourists, but gained particular notoriety after featuring in Danny Boyle’s The Beach.
The film’s enormous success has proved catastrophic for the unspoiled, idyllic beach from which it takes its name. Every year, vast numbers flock to Koh Phi Phi’s Maya Bay, where it was filmed, to enjoy its impossibly blue waters and lounge upon its golden sands.
Today, the reality of the Thai hotspot could hardly be more at odds with the paradise depicted on screen.
The islands have long struggled with tourist numbers (Image: Photolibrary RM)
A recently circulated video from Koh Phi Phi captures hundreds of holidaymakers crammed shoulder to shoulder. They appear to be near the dock, yet to even reach Maya Bay.
The footage has been met with widespread criticism on Reddit, where it was shared. “Nothing about that looks fun,” one user remarked. Another commented: “Absolutely not worth going. I went last month and it was so crowded it just wasn’t fun. At all.” A third simply declared: “What a nightmare.”
Koh Tours, which provides excursions around the archipelago, recently published a blog post addressing the situation, acknowledging that attempts to combat overtourism had proven challenging. “Koh Phi Phi Leh – the smaller, uninhabited island with Maya Bay – was famously closed for three years after The Beach tourism wrecked the coral and stressed out the blacktip reef sharks,” the post reads.
“They reopened it in January 2022 with timed entries, boat limits, no overnight stays, no sunscreen allowed in the water. It’s genuinely better than it was in 2018. But it’s not quiet. A ‘boat limit’ of a couple of hundred visitors at a time still means a couple of hundred people standing in the same shallow bay.
Koh Khai has amazing views and great snorkelling spots (Image: Thailand Tourism Board)
According to Koh Tours, the archipelago’s other main island, Koh Phi Phi Don, also suffers from crowds.
“Koh Phi Phi Don is genuinely crowded. Not ‘it gets a bit busy in peak season’ crowded. Actually crowded. The village on Tonsai Bay – which is basically the whole flat part of the island between the two bays – packs in more foot traffic per square metre than most Thai cities,” the post continues.
Jub Yata is a destination manager at Intrepid Travel, a firm which specialises in sustainable tourism.
“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,” she said of Maya Bay.
Jub collaborates with Intrepid to guide tourists around Thailand in a more conscientious manner that avoids placing excessive strain on the most visited locations. In recent years, this has involved trips to Koh Thap, Koh Poda, and Koh Khai. Koh Thap ranks amongst the most sought-after offshore islands in the Krabi region — situated in western Thailand, just opposite Phuket. The majority of island-hopping excursions venture here to witness and capture the breathtaking parting of the seas.
During low tide, a strip of sand rises from the water, connecting the larger landmass known as Chicken Island to both Koh Mor and Koh Thap. This remarkable natural spectacle is widely known as Talay Waek, which translates as divided sea.
Koh Poda is a particularly serene and peaceful destination. One Intrepid traveller remarked that the island “felt like a completely deserted Robinson Crusoe island”.
Meanwhile, Koh Khai in Phuket is the most developed and frequently visited of the three islands featured on the Intrepid tour. Comprising three smaller islands — Khai Nok, Khai Nai and Khai Nui — it is simple enough to island-hop between them, even within just half a day. Khai Nai is the largest of the trio and boasts stunning vistas and a pristine white sandy beach, making it an ideal spot for both snorkelling and swimming.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
