Nestled between Phuket and the Straits of Malacca, the coast of Thailand, you will find the majestic Islands of Koh Phi Phi. Made famous in 2000 with the release of the film The Beach, Phi Phi’s infamous beaches have been a must-see tourist destination for many years. During a single day the island can see over 1000 tourists arrive onto the main island, Koh Phi Phi Don, and over 1 million tourist a year.
The impact of this booming tourist industry can be seen in its delicate reefs in the surrounding tropical waters. Koh Phi Phi has been trying to curb its environmental impact over the years and in June 2018 saw the indefinite closure of the iconic Maya Bay Beach. A number of Coral propagation projects have been set up over the last decade to try and combat not only the impact from tourism but the changing climate, with mass coral bleaching events on the rise, this seemingly perfect paradise is under threat.
But all hope is not lost. Since the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world the Phi Phi Islands has been on lock down with no main transport in or out of Koh Phi Phi Don since the 3rd April after the closure of the national park at the end of March. This has giving the islanders a unique opportunity to try and reclaim some of its natural beauty back.
Over 100 volunteers from 24 different countries have come together to clean-up Ton Sai Pier, the main ferry hub to the island. Over a span of 8 days they have managed to pull up over 13 tons of waste from the water. This includes over 300 tyres along with thousands of glass bottles and plastics. It has brought tourists, expats and locals together in this trying time to give something back to the island. Local businesses have been donating food and drinks to the volunteers, dive companies have been using their expertise and equipment to co-ordinate the underwater tasks, while the Phi Phi Marine Park team have been helping in the protection of the divers in the water. This team effort is a perfect example of how we can use a time of crises to do something that not only benefits the local community but the environment too, while bringing people from all walks of life together and be able to truly say that #togetherwearestrong.