After 19 years, I lastly went again to Ko Lipe, the Thai island I spent near a month on in 2006. Again then, it was a kind of tremendous off-the-beaten-path locations that few however essentially the most intrepid vacationers visited, the place electrical energy solely ran just a few hours a day, primary bungalows proper on the seashore price one thing like $2 USD, and there actually was a final boat for the season.

There was a lot to do right here however that was the purpose. You frolicked on the seashore, learn a e-book, went snorkeling, went again to the seashore, drank beers on the one seashore bar on the island, rotated meals between the 5 eating places there, and went to mattress early.

It was paradise – and a spot lots of people obtained caught. Days simply changed into weeks right here.

For those who requested me what the spotlight of all my travels was, I would be the time I spent on Ko Lipe. I made unbelievable associates, lounged round, obtained to know the locals, realized a little bit of Thai, and, total, lived that idyllic backpacker life all of us dream about.

Over time, I’ve prevented going again to Ko Lipe as a result of the reminiscence of my time there’s so sturdy that I didn’t need to destroy it. Any re-visit would merely be attempting to recreated a magic that couldn’t be recreated as a result of the those that it particular wouldn’t be there. I’d be chasing travel ghosts. And, since I do know my sleepy paradise has been developed significantly through the years, I used to be additionally too afraid seeing that might make me unhappy.

Tourism in Thailand tends towards the unsustainable. No island actually develops in a great way. It’s all construct, construct, construct.

And I didn’t need to see my Ko Lipe like that.

However as I used to be planning my latest journey by means of Southeast Asia, returning to Ko Lipe made sense. I used to be heading down the Indian Ocean aspect of Thailand on my manner into Malaysia and I’d go by it.

And, since I used to be on the lookout for a energetic place for New 12 months’s Eve, it appeared appreciated your best option. I knew there could be vacationers there and there have been no different close by islands that might work, particularly since Ko Lipe has a ship to Langkawi, which was my subsequent cease.

So, I sucked it up and went.

And I’m unhappy to report that Ko Lipe took the Ko Phi Phi mannequin of tourism and is now extraordinarily overdeveloped.

Unsustainably so.

A lot of the island is now paved over, the previous grime footpaths having grow to be concrete for the vehicles and building vehicles. Swaths of palm bushes are actually the websites of high-end resorts with swimming pools (on an island with no pure water provide). Development of extra resorts continues at a quick tempo. The coral across the island is dying, a sufferer of all of the boats, anchors, air pollution, and overfishing. Seashores are actually lined with boats, their exhaust spilling into the ocean, leaving a shiny movie you’ll be able to see as you swim. And the eating places cater to vacationers on the lookout for dangerous Western meals, not nice Thai delicacies.

The island’s increase has displaced many locals, who have been compelled to promote to mainland builders, and far of the island’s workforce is now from the mainland. They see little of the advantages this tourism increase.

So lies Ko Lipe, one other sufferer of Thailand’s all too frequent overdevelopment and exploitation of restricted assets.

I met plenty of folks there who liked the island. If it’s your first time, I can see why you’ll find it irresistible. In spite of everything, the world is postcard excellent, the water is completely an azure blue, the sand is a gorgeous white, and because you’re surrounded by a nationwide park, plenty of excursions take you to some secluded islands.

And, compared to Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, or Phuket, it’s much less developed so I can’t fault somebody stepping right here for the primary time going “wow!”

However, as I replicate on the island and its overdevelopment, I’ve come to the identical conclusion I’ve about Ko Phi Phi: folks shouldn’t go to.

I’m not in opposition to development, however I’m in opposition to this type of development. It’s not sustainably managed and going there’ll solely tax the island’s restricted assets even additional. You may’t put the genie again within the bottle and no native goes to say “positive, I’ll keep broke so you’ll be able to an idealized imaginative and prescient of the world.”

However this isn’t the way in which.

And, with so many different islands to go to which can be properly managed (Ko Lanta, Ko Jum, and Ko Mook, to call three close by), I feel you need to skip Ko Lipe.

A go to there’ll solely make issues worse.

It pains me to say that, as a result of it was such a gorgeous place, and my authentic go to had a huge effect on my life. But when we’re going to be good stewards and vacationers, typically you simply need to say sufficient is sufficient.

And Ko Lipe is a spot the place sufficient is sufficient.

Go elsewhere that’s higher managed.

As a result of your selections do have an effect.

Using elephants in Thailand went away when customers turned extra acutely aware of it. Eco lodges obtained huge due to customers. Overtourism is talked about by customers as a lot as it’s by locals.

Possibly if sufficient folks begin to do one thing, Ko Lipe will change.

I doubt it however one can hope.

However, on the very least, by not going you’re at the very least no contributing to the issue.