According to the Management Board, after nearly 7 years (since 2017) of converting the method of controlling entrance fees to the core zone of the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An Biosphere Reserve and Marine Protected Area from manual to electronic card control, the core zone of the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An Biosphere Reserve and Marine Protected Area has welcomed nearly 1.8 million visitors.

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Controlling tourists with magnetic cards at the wharf, Cua Dai port (Hoi An, Quang Nam)

At Cua Dai wharf, there are currently 7 control gates and a control system installed, issuing 3 types of electronic cards: dark blue for visitors who pay 100% of the entrance fee; yellow for 50% discount and red for free. Only people from Tan Hiep island commune (Cu Lao Cham) can enter and exit freely.

Of the 1.8 million visitors as of the end of April 2024, nearly 1.6 million paid visitors (including 300,000 international visitors and more than 130,000 free visitors according to regulations), earning nearly 109 billion VND for the state budget.

To manage the number of visitors to the core zone of the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve, the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area Management Board coordinated with the consulting unit to prepare a digital transformation plan and build a database on the Marine Protected Area and the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, and advise the City People's Committee to approve and deploy in the coming time.

Digitizing biodiversity data is the first step in digital transformation, which comes from the mission requirements in the biosphere. The Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area Management Board has been gradually digitizing information on species distribution (images, specimens), facilitating retrieval and updating...

Vice Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee Nguyen The Hung said that Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve was recognized by the International Coordinating Committee of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme on May 26, 2009, for its unique, characteristic and unique values ​​in the current system of 11 world biosphere reserves in Vietnam.

Typical values ​​include: Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area established in 2006 under the National Protected Area System; Hoi An Ancient Town - UNESCO Cultural Heritage recognized in 1999; special-use forests on Cu Lao Cham Island; coastal protection forest system...

According to Mr. Hung, after 15 years, from a poor island commune of Tan Hiep, lacking in all aspects from infrastructure to forest resources, every year the island commune had to receive relief goods at the end of the year, up to now, Cu Lao Cham has completely transformed, not only escaping poverty but also rising to lead the province in terms of income.

The leader of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quang Nam said that in order to continue to demonstrate the local responsibility to contribute to the process of biodiversity restoration of the country as well as the world; Quang Nam has proposed to organize the National Biodiversity Restoration Year - Quang Nam 2024 with the theme "Living in harmony with nature" with more than 40 related activities organized from March to December 2024 throughout the province.

H. Nguyen