Thai authorities have closed the beach made famous by one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s movies in a bid to help fish and reefs recover from the heavy footfall of tourist crowds. Maya Bay, which receives up to 5,000 visitors a day, has been damaged by droves of tourists visiting the island.

The reef had been closed since June, 2018 but Songtham Sikswang, director of the Office of National Parks said the closure will continue into the foreseeable future, adding that there is a need for “at least a year or even up to two years or more for the environment to recover”.

The decision has angered local tour operators who are concerned about their profits taking a hit.