The iconic cove from "The Beach" movie is slowly starting to recover from the onslaught of mass tourism. Thai authorities had sealed it off to the public in 2018 after almost all the coral was destroyed. Now tourism operators and local stakeholders struggling under the pandemic are urging the authorities to reopen the beach. But how can the environmental recovery be secured if this happens?
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Interviewees featured in this episode:
Andrew Hewett, dive center owner on Phi Phi Don island
Thon Thamrongnawasawat, marine biologist from Thailand's Kasetsart University
Songtam Suksawang, advisor to Thailand's national parks department