An island in Thailand will close to tourists due to fears they are causing environmental damage.

The island of Koh Tachai is popular with both foreign and Thai tourists but local authorities said it will close for an indefinite period on October 15.

Located off Phang Nga province in the Similan National Park, the island is particularly popular with divers.

However, authorities said they needed to close it to allow both the island and nearby dive sites to recover from the environmental damage caused by the number of visitors.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation told the Bangkok Post it was part of a masterplan for marine resource management in the Andaman Sea.

All marine national parks in Thailand are closed from mid May to October 15 during the monsoon, but Koh Tachai will remain closed indefinitely this year.