Famed Beach From Leonardo DiCaprio's 2000 Movie Closes Due to Tourist Damage

Fox

The Thai beach made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2000 film “The Beach” will be closed temporarily due to tourist damage.

According to the Associated Press, Maya Bay on the island of Koh Phi Phi Leh will be closed to all visitors for four months every year, starting this June, so that the coral reefs and sea life can recover. Thailand’s national parks and wildlife department made the decision on Wednesday.

Over 200 boats and 4,000 people visit the beach every day, and recent surveys led by marine biologists revealed that parts of the reefs have disappeared and sea life is gone.

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Thailand closes many its marine national parks from mid-May to mid-October but Maya Bay has remained open year round due to tourist demand since the film was released.

“Overworked and tired, all the beauty of the beach is gone. We need a timeout for the beach,” Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a member of Thailand’s national strategy committee on environment development, told the AP.

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When it reopens, there will be a daily limit of 2,000 tourists that will be able to access the beach. Boats will no longer be allowed to anchor there.

“The Beach” was directed by Danny Boyle and based on a novel of the same name by Alex Garland. It also starred Tilda Swinton and Virginie Ledoyen and followed Richard (DiCaprio), who travels to Thailand when he comes in possession of a strange map that depicts a solitary beach paradise.

11 Movies and TV Shows You Probably Forgot Leonardo DiCaprio Was In (Photos)

"The New Lassie" (1989)
Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the syndicated series in 1989, when he was just 15 years old.
"Santa Barbara" (1990)
Then 16-year-old DiCaprio starred in one episode of the drama in 1990 as young Mason Capwell. He later won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor.
NBC
"Parenthood" (1990-1991)
The show revolved around the Buckman family, and is known for featuring cast members who were unknown at the time but would become famous later, like DiCaprio and David Arquette. He was 16.
NBC
"Roseanne" (1991)
DiCaprio appeared in one episode as a classmate of middle daughter Darlene Conner (Sara Gilbert).
ABC
"Critters 3" (1991)
DiCaprio made his film debut in the science fiction horror comedy film.
New Line Cinema
"The Quick and the Dead" (1995)
DiCaprio starred as Fee "The Kid" Herod in the Western opposite Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman and Russell Crowe. He was 19.
TriStar
"Total Eclipse" (1995)
DiCaprio starred as 19th-century French poet Arthur Rimbaud in the film that depicted his passionate yet violent relationship with other poet Paul Verlaine (David Thewlis). He was 21 at the time.
Fine Line Pictures
"Man in the Iron Mask" (1998)
In the first movie released after "Titanic," a scraggly haired DiCaprio starred as King Louis XIV as well as his twin brother, Philippe.
United Artists
Celebrity (1998)
Who knew Leo was in a Woody Allen movie? In this black-and-white Hollywood story, he scuffs up his image as a spoiled, hotel-room-trashing movie star who beats up his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol).
"Don's Plum" (2001)
Starring Tobey Maguire, Kevin Connolly and DiCaprio, it is about a group of people discussing life as they eat at a diner. The drama was filmed in 1995 to 1996, making DiCaprio 21 at the time. However, it was only released in 2001, so when DiCaprio was 27 years old.
Polo Pictures Entertainment
"Body of Lies" (2008)
The action spy film was directed by Ridley Scott and starred DiCaprio as CIA case officer Roger Ferris. DiCaprio was 34 at the time.
Warner Bros.