Phi Phi islands' drive to balance tourism, environmental conservation

STORY: Phi Phi islands' drive to balance tourism, environmental conservation DATELINE: Feb. 21, 2023 LENGTH: 0:02:37 LOCATION: KRABI, Thailand CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Maya Bay beach 2. Marine Discovery Center's marine biologists and staff releasing the bamboo sharks to the ocean 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KULLAWIT LIMCHULARAT, Sustainability development senior specialist at Singha Estate 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BART CALLENS, Cluster General Manager of Saii Resorts STORYLINE: Phi Phi islands, a group of stunningly beautiful islands in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Thailand, were once plagued by the problems of over-tourism, prompting local authorities to close its most famous tourist spot Maya Bay in mid-2018. As tourism begins to pick up in the islands after the pandemic-induced lull, local authorities are striving to balance the need to attract visitors with the need to protect the environment. The number of people entering Maya Bay beach now has been reduced from around 7,