From Irrawaddy web-site:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/beaut...s-sparkle.html
From this article, it seems that the drop in popularity is not really due to the ethnic violence in north Rakhine, but more a combination of unlicenced hotel construction and destruction of the beach by stealing sand for construction and building retaining walls.
It's interesting that many of the resorts at Ngapali beach are actually owned by families of the military - I wonder how many foreign tourists realise that when they are relaxing by their hotel pool.
The Irrawaddy reporter who attended the meeting about the beach was blocked by government employees from asking questions.
Well, it sounds like it will go the same way as Patong and Pattaya beaches - they never learn.
I was going to ride my bike over to the beach in April, but will give it a miss.