An idyllic Thai bay made famous by its appearance in the film The Beach will remain closed to tourists until 2021.
Maya Bay in Thailand was immortalised by the film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and originally closed to visitors last year.
However, it will now remain closed for a further two years to allow for ecological recovery.
"We will review again then if it is ready to open to tourists," Songtam Suksawang, director of Thailand's National Parks Department, told CNN.
"We need more time to allow nature to fully recover. Our team will reassess the situation every three months."
Before the bay on Ko Phi Phi was closed there were up to 5,000 visitors every day and most of its coral had died due to the high level of tourism, according to the BBC.
It added that when the park reopens the number of visitors will be restricted and boats are to be banned mooring in the bay’s waters.
Blacktip reef sharks have reportedly been sighted swimming in the waters of the bay since it was closed.
The Beach was released in 2000 and depicts a number of backpackers moving to a previously uninhabited island.
The film, directed by Danny Boyle, is based on a 1996 novel of the same name.
