UNDETERRED by beach
closures related to over
tourism, South Africans
continue to flock to Phi
Phi, while local agents
and operators have
shown their support
for sustainable tourism
initiatives implemented
in the area by Thai
authorities.
Maya Bay, the Phi
Phi island cove made
famous by the movie
The Beach, was closed
by Thai authorities a
year ago. Recently, the
Thai government said
the closure would be
extended to at least 2021
to ensure that marine life
could recover from the
impact of overtourism.
Rejuvenation project
The rejuvenation project
has included the planting
of 10 000 corals in the
area and an expansion of
the bay’s visitor facilities,
including a new floating
dock, an eco-focused
boardwalk and new
bathrooms.
“We haven’t experienced
any negative impact from
the closure of the beach,”
says marketing manager
of Thompsons Holidays,
Celeste Muir. “We believe
that travellers understand
the conservation efforts
behind this closure, which
is to allow for ecological
recovery.
“Phi Phi remains
one of our top-selling
destinations in Thailand,
with day tours also
available from Phuket
and Krabi. A full-day tour
includes a visit to Phi
Phi Don and Phi Phi Lay.
Maya Bay on Phi Phi Lay
is still visited but there is
no access to the beach.
Clients then move on to
Phi Phi Don for a Thai
lunch at a beachside
restaurant before the
rest of the day unfolds
with great swimming and
snorkelling opportunities,”
says Celeste.
Top seller
Flight Centre’s gm of
product and marketing,
Sue Garrett says its Phi
Phi island tour remains
a top-seller. There have
been great improvements
in the clarity of water
and sea life since the
Maya Bay beach closure,
she says. “At FCTG we
are supportive of any
initiative that encourages
responsible travel. We
launched a responsible
travel initiative in 2017
called ‘Worldwise’ and our
charter advocates that
our group will promote
and sell travel that
protects human rights, the
environment and social
equality.”
Pentravel’s product
manager, Vicky
Steinhardt, says: “We are
still selling Phi Phi island
and, while Maya Bay is
affected, there are a
variety of other locations
in the area that are just
as beautiful. We recently
sent an educational group
on one of the updated
tours and they loved it.”
Phi Phi island sales have
grown since the closure
of Maya Bay, says The
Holiday Factory’s Far East
product manager, Marilyn
Padiachy. “We have
been actively promoting
combinations of Phuket,
Phi Phi, Khao Lak and
Krabi. These are very
affordable combinations
as they all only require a
return flight into Phuket,
with no regional flight
sectors pushing up the
package price. Phi Phi
island has now crept up
to rank as our third most
popular Thai destination,”
says Marilyn.
