“These things show that nature will heal if we give it time, and we have to work to keep it that way too.”

To ensure it remains protected, authorities said only up to 375 visitors will be allowed to visit at one time and swimming will be prohibited for now. Boats will only be allowed to dock at a designated location at the back of the bay to avoid damaging coral reefs, they said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, tourism accounted for about 12 per cent of Thailand’s economy and was a key driver of growth, with the country attracting 40 million visitors in 2019.