Tourists can once again “believe in paradise” after Thai authorities reopened Maya Bay, the location used for the 2000 film The Beach.  Interest in the site had spiked following the release of the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and in June 2018 authorities shut Maya Bay down to allow it time to recover from environmental damage blamed on excessive tourism. On New Year’s Day, January 1, 2022, Thailand resumed allowing travellers to visit, but with limits on numbers and duration of stay.