Alaska is now taking steps to reduce travel to its beaches after a new statewide road ban.

Travelers can now take a plane instead of a boat to the state’s largest oceanfront island, Prince William Sound.

The ban was announced Monday and goes into effect Jan. 1.

Alaskans can no longer take a boat or plane to the area, either, as it’s now a restricted airspace area.

Alaska’s Department of Transportation and Environment says the new restrictions will help protect beaches and allow for a safer environment for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit the island each year.

“Our focus is to make the best possible use of the resources and facilities available to us, and we will continue to work to keep people safe while protecting the health and safety of our people,” said Kristi Smith, the state director of the Department of Environmental Management.

Smith says the department has been working with local, state, and federal agencies to implement the rules.