Thailand demands ten million Thai Baht from 20th Century Fox to repair Maya Bay

Roots of indigenous plants prevented the sand in Maya Bay from washing away. Sand would have eroded in the absence of the plants. Reopening of the bay is planned for October 1. Given what we’ve learned today, the bay might stay closed. For breaking Thailand’s National Park Act and National Environmental Quality Promotion and Conservation Act, the film company was sued (1992). The native ecology of Phi Phi Island was devastated by renovations. The 250-meter beach at Maya Bay was reopened in January after 3 and a half years. The film company was sued for permitting Maya Bay to be “renovated” for the movie by Thailand’s Forestry Department. The Supreme Court mandated that Thailand’s Department of Forestry use 10 million baht from 20th Century Studios to repair Maya Bay. 20th Century Fox, now known as 20th Century Studios, is responsible for the environmental harm caused by Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2000 film “The Beach,” which cost 10 million baht to produce. In 1998, “The Beach” was filmed at Maya Bay in the southern Thai province of Krabi. After the movie’s success, the bay became a well-liked tourist destination, but “The Beach” hasn’t been the same ever since. According to environmentalists, soil at Maya Beach has been washed away because of the destruction of flora and flattening of sand dunes. According to local artist Boonkasem Saokow from the Krabi region, the beach was expanded for the movie, which implied that any natural boundaries were eliminated. To protect the environment, the number of tourists is capped to 375 each hour between 10 am and 4 pm. The bay was closed in July to allow for environmental restoration.