Tropical bay from ‘The Beach’ in Thailand to close until 2021

A Thai bay that was made famous by its appearance in the film The Beach is to remain closed until 2021. Maya Bay, on the island of Phi Phi Leh, was temporarily closed last year after officials said a sharp rise in visitors had severely damaged the environment. Before it closed, up to 5,000 people were visiting the bay every day and most of its coral died as a result. Authorities have now extended the ban on visitors by two years to give more time for Maya Bay’s ecology to recover.