A tourist ban at the Thai beach made famous by a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio has been extended to 2021.
Since the release of the film, The Beach, in 2000 there has been a sharp rise in visitors to the Maya Bay, on the island of Phi Phi Leh, severely damaging the environment.
Last year officials temporarily closed the beach and now the closure has been extended to give its ecology more time to recover.
When it eventually reopens, officials plan to restrict the number of visitors and boats will be banned from mooring within the bay’s waters.
But local people have opposed the ban, saying their livelihoods are being affected.
