Thailand's Conservation Conundrum Resurfaces as Tourists Return

For nearly four years, Thailand's scenic Maya Bay with its towering cliffs and calm cyan waters had no tourists. Authorities closed it down to mitigate the effects of excessive tourism in 2018 and then the pandemic hit, keeping visitors and those who cater to them away and allowing marine life to revive. But with COVID-19 fast becoming a thing of the past and visitors as well as Thailand's tourism industry eager to make up for lost time, the area has been faced with new challenges and a tough balancing act after re-opening in January 2022.