Pattaya, the ‘Man-Made Paradise,’ is officially back open for business

One of the most famous beach destinations in Thailand is finally set to open its doors this week.

On June 4, Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources announced the reopening of Soi Boy, its most famous bay, which had been shut down for nearly four months due to bad water and environmental concerns, according to AsiaToday.

The beach is a few kilometers west of Pattaya, the “man-made paradise” made famous in Cameron Crowe’s 2000 movie “The Beach.” Pattaya is a popular tourist destination in Thailand.

In October, Pattaya’s Department of Tourism took to social media to welcome tourists to the area. But they weren’t letting them in the beach.

“Do not enter Soi Boy at all! This is prohibited,” the tourism department posted, warning people to not waste water at the popular beach. In photos posted online, there were only several dejected tourists standing in the sand.

“The department also announced to not swim or enter the areas affected by Sewol … as soon as possible. This will also prevent the spread of illness,” the department said.

About 800,000 people visit Soi Boy each year. But the area will likely only welcome about 100,000 this year, according to Dharmasree Narasingh, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources’ director-general.

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