Cham Islands tourism on Hong Kong SCMP
(QNO) - According to the Hong Kong SCMP, the moderation in Cham Islands tourism, in combination with efforts in ecosystem conservation, is paying off, while the surge in travellers and tourists is putting strain on Hoi An.
Cham Islands, a short boat ride from Hoi An ancient town (Quang Nam province) - a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, is successful in its moderate approach to tourism and giving a priority to the islands’ ecosystem preservation. Ecologists say that Cham Islands is on the way to avoid the risks that Hoi A faces when tourism booms.
Cham Islands, a complex of 8 islands, is home to around 3000 residents. It was recognised as a world biosphere reserve in 2009 by UNESCO, as part of a loop linking its pristine beaches, coral dive spots, and homestays to Hoi An on the mainland.
Tom Fawthrop calls this a feat of conservation made possible by the buy-in of locals, who have cleaned up plastic pollution and got serious about overfishing in the blue waters.
According to environmental scientist Le Ngoc Thao, chief of the island’s Marine Protection Agency, local fishermen have been convinced to stop fishing in the coral reef and accept zones for sustainable fisheries.
Instead, they could take the scuba-divers to see a pristine reef brimming with fish and get a much better income.
The local fishermen have eventually come around to using their boats to serve visitors, enabling the MPA to protect the reefs from the worldwide threat posed by warming waters that bleach coral.
Cham Islands is the only place in Vietnam to promote the non-use of plastic bags and “3R” (reduce, reuse, and recycle) programmes since 2011, as well as fighting overfishing for decades.
Furthermore, there are strict regulations in place to prevent the over-harvesting of land crabs, a vital component of the islands’ ecology, which has witnessed a 75% increase in population. At the same time, visitors to the Cham Islands are limited to 3000 a day.
Gradually, the efforts to conserve the environment and promote moderation in tourism have resulted in an increase in fish species and the Cham Islands becoming one of the cleanest islands in Vietnam.
In addition, at the mouth of the rivers flowing through Hoi An, nipa palm and mangrove forests have been planted as part of the MPA’s climate change resilience plans. They are considered ecologically important areas for fish spawning and migratory birds.
Currently, Quang Nam and Hoi An authorities and people are still making every effort to develop tourism sustainably.
(Source: vnexpress)