Maya Bay will remain closed until November due to environmental concerns. Scientists believe that it will take at least another month for the local coral reefs and mangrove forests to recover from damage done by tourism.
Maya Bay became famous after serving as a filming location for The Beach, a movie starring Leonardo di Caprio and Tilda Swinton. Since the 1999 film, the area has suffered from overwhelming tourist traffic that has damaged and contaminated the pristine area.